Happy New Year Happy - Unhappy

Happy New Year

Happy - Unhappy 

If there is a happy, there is an unhappy

All of us get that unhappy feeling

 

It is that sick feeling when something is wrong or we have

to do something we don’t want to or feel we might fail at

You can know all the right things but if you can’t

overcome the unhappy feeling all you will have is excuses

God’s Word tells us how to conquer the unhappy feelings

So we can have a Happy New Year

“For the joy set before Him He endured the cross”

If there is a happy, there is an unhappy.

The other day I was interviewing

a man in his 30’s for a part time job.

As I talked to him about his job history and his spiritual life,

 I could see both were sourly lacking.

He needed a job and needed spiritual growth.

He wanted money and he wanted spiritual health.

One thing he took pride in was his ability to work out in the gym.

He can see himself stronger than most other men.

But now even that is suffering as he is 50lbs over weight.

 He lacks motivation.

I talked to him about things he should do

to get his life where it ought to be and he

agreed “but” there were excuses.

For every positive thing he could do, he had an excuse.

His excuses went back to his childhood.

I could see that he was physically able

to do everything he needed to do.

I could see he knew what I was

telling him to do was right.

Yet, there was one thing lacking.

 He was lacking startup power.

He was unhappy.

A feeling inside that controlled a strong young man.

That unhappy feeling is something we all have.

It is that sick feeling when something is

wrong or we have to do something we

don’t want to or feel we might fail at.

I know that feeling too well.

When I worked at the factory I got that

feeling every Sunday night as I thought

of having to go to work in the morning.

It was that feeling every time I was asked to

do a funeral or wedding, even each week as

I thought about preaching the next Sunday.

I have talked to preachers and coaches who went

to the bathroom to throw up before preaching to

a crowd or going onto the field to lead the team.

All of us have this unhappy feeling; it is anxiety, stress, fear, doubt.

Doctors are commonly prescribing medications to help people cope.

So how do we overcome the unhappy feeling that overcomes us?

If there is an unhappy, there is a happy.

It is clear to see that when Jesus was in the Garden of

Gethsemane His scale of unhappy was a 10, off the chart.

He overcame the unhappy with his focus on the happy.

“For the joy that was set before Him He endured the cross.”

If we focus on our unhappy feelings

we will just get better at excuses.

If we focus on doing what will give

us happiness we will find courage.

Focus is the first key.

For some people they see the unhappy feeling as

a challenge and live the thought of being a conquer.

This has to be the description of a skydiver.

Although I have been told that drugs

would help me and they probably would

make it easier, I have taken the following

measures to overcome my unhappy feelings.

There are two scriptures that have helped

me through the years to deal with the

unhappy sick feeling in my stomach.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

I never face life alone.

I realize God does not follow me I must follow Him.

So as I follow Him I see the things I

face are because He led me to them

and wants me to get through them.

 No matter how hard or how much I lack He will

strengthen me and together we get the job done.

Although not a verse in the Bible

“And this too shall pass” does

summarize 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.

 

When I have to face something overwhelming

I look at what time it is.

There is an end to every problem or challenge we have.

I envision myself on the other side.

If I have to face one of my fears on Monday

I see myself on Tuesday and remember

how fast 24 hours passes.

If you and I want a Happy New Year

we will have to overcome the unhappy.

You and I for the most part don’t need to

be told what to do, we already know it.

What we need is to get started by not letting the sick

feeling in our stomach keep us from moving forward.

When I was in my 20’s and the morning alarm went off

telling me I had to go to work and face another day, I

realized I could not shout off the alarm and go back to sleep.

So as soon as I heard the alarm I shouted,

“This is the day the Lord has made

I will rejoice and be glad in it”.

By the time I was done saying this my feet were on the

ground and I was standing full of faith that God had

something special He wanted me to experience that day.

That exercise not only woke up Sandy,

it opened my eyes to God’s world for me

it was not just another day at the mill.

Don’t let the sick feeling in your stomach

keep you from a Happy New Year.

Scripture Reading 

 Philippians 4:13 NIV

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.