Finding Happiness in Christ (Series 5)Sample

The fisherman and his wife

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1)

In the book "The Fisherman and His Wife," Lucy Crane tells the story of a fisherman who catches a big fish, which is an enchanted prince. The fisherman let go of the fish and went home empty-handed. The fisherman's wife urged her husband to return to the sea and asked the prince to grant a wish in return for releasing him back into the sea. The fisherman complied and asked (according to his wife's wish) that their small hut be turned into a villa. When the fisherman returned, he found that his request had been granted. His wife quickly grew tired of their villa and told her husband to come back and ask for a large stone castle. Again, their request was granted.

After his wife grew tired of her castle, she asked to be made queen, then owned a palace, was made empress, and finally became ruler of the sun and moon. This time, the enchanted prince told the fisherman to go home, where he found his wife back living in their little hut.

We can spend enormous amounts of time, effort, and resources looking forward to material possessions, relationships, and accomplishments. When we do this, we fail to enjoy God's gifts. God wants us to enjoy every moment that happens every day. When we see God in our present life, we can recognize His work in the future.

Getting angry over what we don't have is wasting what you do have.

Reflection: Be more grateful and believe that your life will be easier because you can see things that you may have missed because you were too busy complaining. The more we are grateful for what we have, the more we will have to be thankful for. Don't be surprised that the more we complain about the problems we face, the more problems we have to complain about. 

Being content sets you free to enjoy every good thing that God has given you. 

(Henry & Richard Blackaby)