The Fuel That Destroys DepressionSample

Happiness

Happiness often leads to improved and better health. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.” A merry heart means a happy heart. Where does happiness come from? It is the byproduct of a hopeful future, which begins to be the fuel. Hope is the fuel that destroys depression. 

American minister and writer Norman Vincent Peale wrote this in one of his books called The Power of Positive Thinking: “The way to happiness: keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Fill your life with love. Scatter sunshine. Forget self, think of others. Do as you would be done by. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.” 

The Bible is a book on happiness. It is not a book of severity and gloom; it is a book of joy, good news, and laughter. Jesus’ first miracle was not done at a funeral but at a wedding feast, at a celebration of joy, love, and excitement. He turned water into wine, and wine represented joy. 

Have you ever thought about the joy with which God created the world? All the exotic flowers, colorful birds, mountains and forests, the heavens filled with stars, the sunrise and sunset, spring days, summer, winter, fall; we can see God’s excitement and joy in creation. He filled the earth with Himself. If you do not believe that God is a God of joy, happiness, laughter, and goodwill, all you have to do is take a look at God’s creation. Open your eyes and look all around you. The world is filled with color and beauty. When we get close to God, we capture His joy. We see His excitement and enthusiasm in creation. We look at people differently and get the same joy that God has within Himself, which produces in us strength. 

What makes happy people happy is not how much they have or who they are: what determines their happiness is their state of mind. We need to pay attention to our thoughts. If our minds are filled with grudges, hate, selfishness, impurity, and dishonesty, then the clear light of joy cannot filter through. 

We need to fill our hearts with God’s Word, with His great thoughts about us. We need to search for the good in the people we meet. It is easy to see the bad things, but we need to be intentional in seeing the good in people. Get rid of criticism and negativity. It is so easy to get critical and negative in this world, but we have to push against it. We must ask for forgiveness for all of our errors and replace them with truth from God. Let’s live lives that meditate upon and speak God’s Word. Let’s live a joyful, happy life.