Hard times can create a lot of unhappiness…
And lead people to not only live under a cloud of gloom, but pursue self-destructive behaviors.
As the theologian Thomas Aquinas observed…
Souls without joy seek to find it in carnal pleasures.
But the Bible provides the remedy.
Which is to order one’s life according to God’s precepts.
As a shepherd, warrior and king, David faced all kinds of serious difficulties.
Yet in the crucible of these troubles he discovered the way to a happy life was to keep himself in God’s ways.
Consider…
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.
~Psalm 1:1-2
And…
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD. Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart.
~Psalm 119:1-2
The Hebrew word for ‘blessed’ here can be translated “happy”…
And it conveys the kind pleasure and happiness that comes from staying on the straight path and advancing in the right way for one’s life.
None of this depends on circumstances…
Which means you can be in the middle of a heap of trouble and still be happy.
May the joy of the Lord be your strength today as you order your life by His commands.
The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
~Psalm 19:7-8
