Walking the LineSample

Happiness is being at peace, being with loved ones, being comfortable . . . but most of all, it’s having those loved ones. —Johnny Cash

A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables. —Proverbs 24:3–4 NLT

Johnny Cash identifies three key ingredients to happiness in the home. The first is peace. Peace is important to God. The apostle Paul showed us God’s lofty expectations in this area when he wrote, “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18 NLT). Peace doesn’t always come naturally. For one thing, it usually requires compromise. Sometimes it must be worked out in the aftermath of battle. And that can be a tall order, especially if stubbornness or hard feelings linger. But the rewards of working toward peace are always worth the effort. Ultimately, peace comes from God. “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 NLT).

In the home, genuine peace comes from submitting to God and then submitting to one another, prioritizing the whole family's good over individual needs and desires. When God’s peace dominates, the home becomes a haven. The second ingredient is comfort. But Johnny Cash was talking about something deeper than creature comforts—a fireplace, a recliner, a king-size bed, and cozy blankets scattered around.

The comfort he talked about is the sense of feeling at home in your home. Comfort is knowing that you’re surrounded by people who may not always understand you but who genuinely care about you. Comfort is knowing that while you may occasionally face discipline and correction, you won’t be judged for mistakes. Comfort is knowing that you have leeway and understanding. Comfort is knowing that God is at the center of your home—that you’re not ultimately responsible for your family’s safety and well-being. Comfort is knowing that God cares even more deeply for your loved ones than you do— that He knows exactly what’s best for them and how to bring it about.

The third and most important ingredient is our loved ones. One surefire way to foster happiness in our homes is to ensure our loved ones know how much we love them. When we take the time to listen and observe to find out what makes each family member feel valued and loved, we can show them our love through more than just words. Our intentional acts of kindness can go a long way to convince someone that they are truly loved and accepted.

Finally, one of the most meaningful ways to show the depth of our love is to pray for our loved ones every day. We can lift them up individually to God as we name the requests we know of in their lives and commit the rest to Him. As Johnny Cash clarifies, we don’t need all three ingredients to be truly happy. As long as we have people who love us and want the best for us, we can find happiness in whatever life throws our way.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the peace that you make possible, regardless of the circumstances. Thank You for the comfort of knowing my future rests in Your hands. And thank You for the loved ones You’ve entrusted to my care. Let me never take for granted the happiness that You make possible. In Jesus’ name. Amen.