I'm Still Not Happy

In follow up to my last blog.  I wanted to share with you something that as a Pastor I've had to deal with one to many times.

"I'm not happy and I'm going to do something about it."

If you are a pastor or a leader I have one piece of advice for you.

DUCK!

I find that people who take it upon themselves to, "fix" their happiness will take the, "ends justify the means" approach to finding their happiness.  Unfortunately, they will most likely cause you a lot of unhappiness.

In Genesis 25 we read how Rachel manipulated her husband and #1 son, Esau, in order to get her husbands best blessing for #2 son Jacob.  It worked, but the repercussions were not pleasant.  Esau pledged to murder Jacob and I get the feeling that Rachel had to sleep in a different tent for a while.

There are a few things to consider here.

If you're not happy, it's you're choice.  I'm not saying that every situation in your life requires you to respond with joy and support.  But no one "makes" you unhappy.  You choose.

If something is bothering you.  Talk about it.  Talk to yourself.  Talk to your pastor or a wise friend.  You may even need to talk to the person who is causing the problem.

Don't trash people behind their backs.  That's a form of gossip and backbiting.  (We call it getting stabbed in the back.)  This will never fix anything. (Reread that last sentence.)  It will probably get the attention of someone in authority who will confront you.  Now, you're really not going to be happy.

PRAY:  Dear Jesus, help me to accept people and life on Your terms.  AMEN

Ok, I've missed blogging.  I gave up and admitted to myself that I have a productivity problem.  I have enrolled myself in Michael Hyatt's course Free to Focus.  It is a 9-hour course on how to manage my priorities, tasks, and energy.  I'm 40 minutes into it and learning a lot.


Comments