I know a guy who dreamed his whole life of being a Navy seal.
He worked hard, trained, failed once, then worked even harder to prepare. He talked about going to BUDS, staying up 40+ hours with no sleep, until finally, he became a SEAL!
His whole life culminated in this one moment. It was a monumental achievement.
But he said something that shocked me. This absolutely blew me away.
He said: “It was the worst day of my life.”
Why?
He had achieved every goal and it didn’t give him the feeling he thought it would.
It didn’t make him happy.
We all want to be happy.
In fact, psychologists tell us happiness motivates every decision. Every choice you make is based on this principle: “What will bring me the most happiness?”
God has some advice for you.
“You’ll never find joy looking for joy.”
Here is a talk I gave for some college students for StuMo Online. You can watch it at the link below!
Joy not found in external things or anything temporary in this world.
God’s Word gives us the proper prescription.
Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
“Joy grows in the presence of Jesus.”
Circumstances don’t have to dictate your joy.
Joy is not a feeling you get but a fruit that is produced in you.
Put it into Practice:
1. What are some ways you’ve chased after joy and been let down?
2. What are things that distract you from being in the presence of God?
3. Why can we be joyful despite circumstances?
4. How does being in the presence of the Lord produce joy?
5. How will you pursue the presence of Jesus this week?
