Happiness Demands Resilience

What would most people like to have in 2017?

For so many would that answer would be Happiness.

You can have it—you can be a happy, joyful person, because you control your happiness with your attitude. Why do some people bounce back, while others break?

Resilience is the ability to get through, get over, integrate life experiences, and thrive after trauma, trials, and tribulations. Resilience is the capacity for recovery. It is your capability to retain a positive self-image, a positive view of the world, even after you’ve been tested and hurt by difficult or traumatic circumstances.

Resilience is the shock absorber in life.

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

We all need shock absorbers. Life is bumpy, so how you deal with it and stay on the road God has for you is very important. We cannot simply sit down and whine about our bumps and say it is not fair. We must get up and find a way to press on, instead of waiting on  someone to fix it all for us. When we do that, God heals us, and uses us in His kingdom, and in helping others.

Happy people make the world better. The main part of obtaining happiness or real joy begins in our minds.

Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Resilience is mandatory for maturity and happiness.

In the life of Moses, we see the picture of resilience in the midst of all kinds of difficulty.

Moses Overcame Memories of Failure

Moses returned to Kadesh to face a forty year old failure. Numbers13:26 For each of us, after we have failed it is hard to see something that again reminds us of our failure. However, failure must be overcome if we are to continue.

UCLA psychiatrist Dr. Stephen Marmer says that on a scale from one to ten concerning resilience, most Americans are between 1 and 3. They see themselves as victims, and they are usually extremely vulnerable people.

It is impossible to be happy if you are always so fragile. If you always fall apart when adversity enters, you will not be able to function well and thrive in this life. You must have resolve to overcome and keep going.

Where are the pioneers today?

Moses Overcame Adversity

Moses overcame severe circumstances that surrounded him. One main obstacle was the environment: they had no water. Numbers 20:5 neither is there any water to drink.

Freud said psychotherapy helps fight neurotic misery, so that one can fight ordinary misery, which is always present.

Resilience helps us bounce back without anger, so we can correct the problem that tries to throw us off track.

Immature people are never happy. They always have the gloom despair, and agony on me mentality.

Some are born with more resilience, but anyone, even in early childhood, can learn to be resilient.

Parents can take steps to help our children grow resilience, in the midst of their difficulties.

He Overcame Emotions

Numbers 20:1 And the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

Moses returned to a place where his sister had died. She had saved him when he was a child. He must overcome that painful emotion and fulfill his responsibility as a leader.

He Overcame Criticism

The people criticized Moses for everything they did not like: For the lack of water, for the type of food they had to eat, and his leadership. We all have darts hit us. We either stay in the corner and whine, bleeding to death, not pulling them out, or we pull the darts out, bandage up, and keep going.

Success and Happiness Is Found in Seeking God

Moses sought GOD. He turned to God for the answer to the problems that he faced.

Numbers 20:6 And they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.

People who believe in God have an extra advantage that helps them (or can help them) be resilient and happy.

Will we decide to be happy in 2017?
Will we determine to follow a pattern such as Moses gave us? Will we go to God and allow Him to help us overcome the difficulties that life is sure to bring?

Remember Moses. He was resilient; he was an overcomer. Moses was human just like us, so we can follow his biblical pattern and God can do great things through our lives as well. We can overcome anything and remain happy with God’s help. Get in His Word, and ask for His help.

Let’s choose Happiness— The Joy of the Lord in 2017.