Holy or Happy?

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                                     Holy or Happy?
 
New York Times best-selling author, Lori Gottleib, asserts that many parents try too hard to make their kids happy.  The result is that as young adults many of them end up being profoundly unhappy.  Gottleib says that “parents who refuse to let their children experience failure or sadness give them a false view of the world and do not prepare them for the harsh realities of adult life.  They’re left feeling empty and anxious.”
 
I’ve never been a fan of participation trophies or the “everyone wins” philosophy of many organized sports.  With my kids and grandkids, I’ve felt it was important to make sure they learned to lose as well as win with grace.  [I’ll confess, I had to cheat a little to occasionally beat my 6-foot grandson at one-on-one basketball this summer]
 
Some Christians expect that the Lord will be the kind of parent who protects them from all sorrow and disappointment.  But that’s not the kind of Father He is.  He lovingly allows His children to go through suffering.  He never promises we won’t face trials, but He promises to go with us through them. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze”. (Isaiah 43:2)
 
God’s goal is not to make us happy, but to make us holy. (see I Thessalonians 3:13).  Our greatest joy comes in knowing we are living a life that is pleasing to Him.
 
 
Have a great week!
Pastor Barry
 
 
If you would like to comment or if you have questions for Pastor Barry you may direct those to bglawson75@gmail.com.   We would love to hear from you.