I think most of us at some point have caught ourselves trying to fill in that blank.
I would be happier if I had those latest clothing styles.
I would be happier if I had a nicer car.
I would be happier if I could lose ten pounds.
I would be happier if I had a different job.
I would be happier if I had the relationship she has.
I would be happier if I lived in a bigger house.
I would be happier if I was at that stage of life.
I would be happier if I made more money.
I would be happier if I had a personality more like hers.
Any of these sound familiar??? It seems that no matter what we have been given, we always like to think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. We look at someone else's life from the outside, see a few good things, assume their life is perfect, and suddenly we become discontented with our own life.
I would be happier if I had those latest clothing styles.
I would be happier if I had a nicer car.
I would be happier if I could lose ten pounds.
I would be happier if I had a different job.
I would be happier if I had the relationship she has.
I would be happier if I lived in a bigger house.
I would be happier if I was at that stage of life.
I would be happier if I made more money.
I would be happier if I had a personality more like hers.
Any of these sound familiar??? It seems that no matter what we have been given, we always like to think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. We look at someone else's life from the outside, see a few good things, assume their life is perfect, and suddenly we become discontented with our own life.
The comparison trap is one of the worst pits we can fall into. It leaves us feeling unhappy, uncontent, worried, and as if we are falling behind in life. I don’t see any positive results, do you? The truth is nothing good comes from the comparison trap. All it does is place us in a state of constant misery. I know because I have fallen into that trap many times! As a recent college graduate with so many unanswered things in my future, it is tempting for me to fall into the trap of wishing that I had some different things- wishing I had a better job, wishing I had my own apartment or home, wishing I had a sure family of my own to care for, etc. like some of the people my age that I know. I’m sure others know what I’m talking about…
What we must realize, though, is that the issue is not that God has given others a better portion in life, like we are tempted to believe. The issue lies within ourselves—it’s a heart issue. We have not taken the time to be thankful and to try to cultivate the portion He has already given to us.
What we must realize, though, is that the issue is not that God has given others a better portion in life, like we are tempted to believe. The issue lies within ourselves—it’s a heart issue. We have not taken the time to be thankful and to try to cultivate the portion He has already given to us.
The other day I saw a really good quote on one of my friend’s Facebook page. Here is what it said: “You may think the grass is greener on the other side, but if you take the time to water your own grass it would be just as green” (author unknown).
I’ll be honest, I felt a little convicted after reading that quote! What God has been teaching me these past few months is that happiness is a choice. Every day we get up in the morning and we have a choice to make. We can choose to be happy or we can choose to be unhappy about certain circumstances we are facing. Rather than looking at what we don’t have, why not instead take time to look at what we do have? Rather than complaining about what we don’t have, why not instead take time to embrace and enhance what has already been given to us? Rather than wish for a job we don’t have, why not thank God for the job we do have? God places us in different places for a certain amount of time to learn the skills and lessons we need before moving on to something new. Or maybe He doesn’t want us to have the job we think we want because it will interfere with the perfect plans He has for us. Maybe God doesn’t want us to have more money or a bigger house because it will affect our attitude toward life and cause our priorities to change. Rather than wish for the family and relationships that we don’t have, why not realize all the blessings and opportunities God has given us with the special people we do have? Most of the time our relationships with others in our lives are not all that we hope for because we haven’t taken the time to cultivate them and work at growing what we have.
I love Psalm 118:24 “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” The Bible doesn’t say that we will rejoice in the day only when it is perfect and we have everything we want. No! It says THIS is the day and we WILL rejoice and be glad. The word “this” implies the here and now, and the word “will” leaves no room for doubt or uncertainty. In other words, the Bible says that we ought to rejoice right now no matter what circumstances we are facing and no matter what we feel we are lacking.
What we need to realize is that God places each and every one of us where we are at in life for a reason. He hasn’t forgotten about us, but instead has a perfect plan!
Jeremiah 29:11 says: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
He loves us and is in control with His purpose! What is it today that you feel you are lacking to be happy? Instead of thinking that some concrete or material thing can change our happiness, instead we must take a step back and first evaluate our attitude and our heart! CHOOSE to be HAPPY TODAY!
Photo Credits:
The Road to Happy
https://www.flickr.com/photos/supernaturalwarfare/481949902/
Greener Grass
http://www.inboundsales.net/blog/bid/54380/Lead-Generation-Is-the-grass-really-greener-on-the-other-side-of-the-fence
Water the Grass
http://www.lawncare.org/how-to-water-your-grass/
I’ll be honest, I felt a little convicted after reading that quote! What God has been teaching me these past few months is that happiness is a choice. Every day we get up in the morning and we have a choice to make. We can choose to be happy or we can choose to be unhappy about certain circumstances we are facing. Rather than looking at what we don’t have, why not instead take time to look at what we do have? Rather than complaining about what we don’t have, why not instead take time to embrace and enhance what has already been given to us? Rather than wish for a job we don’t have, why not thank God for the job we do have? God places us in different places for a certain amount of time to learn the skills and lessons we need before moving on to something new. Or maybe He doesn’t want us to have the job we think we want because it will interfere with the perfect plans He has for us. Maybe God doesn’t want us to have more money or a bigger house because it will affect our attitude toward life and cause our priorities to change. Rather than wish for the family and relationships that we don’t have, why not realize all the blessings and opportunities God has given us with the special people we do have? Most of the time our relationships with others in our lives are not all that we hope for because we haven’t taken the time to cultivate them and work at growing what we have.
I love Psalm 118:24 “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” The Bible doesn’t say that we will rejoice in the day only when it is perfect and we have everything we want. No! It says THIS is the day and we WILL rejoice and be glad. The word “this” implies the here and now, and the word “will” leaves no room for doubt or uncertainty. In other words, the Bible says that we ought to rejoice right now no matter what circumstances we are facing and no matter what we feel we are lacking.
What we need to realize is that God places each and every one of us where we are at in life for a reason. He hasn’t forgotten about us, but instead has a perfect plan!
Jeremiah 29:11 says: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
He loves us and is in control with His purpose! What is it today that you feel you are lacking to be happy? Instead of thinking that some concrete or material thing can change our happiness, instead we must take a step back and first evaluate our attitude and our heart! CHOOSE to be HAPPY TODAY!
Photo Credits:
The Road to Happy
https://www.flickr.com/photos/supernaturalwarfare/481949902/
Greener Grass
http://www.inboundsales.net/blog/bid/54380/Lead-Generation-Is-the-grass-really-greener-on-the-other-side-of-the-fence
Water the Grass
http://www.lawncare.org/how-to-water-your-grass/