Happiness.
We all want it (even if we don’t admit it) and we try to find it in a myriad of ways from relationships to shopping to adventure. Soon, however, we are back in touch with the discontent we feel underneath it all.
No temporary high can fix that.
The only way to find true and lasting joy is to connect with God, to listen to Him and to pay attention to all the little ways that He is speaking to you. No matter how difficult life becomes, when we’re connected with God and relating to Him on a daily basis He gives us joy that enables us to walk through those hardships.
I find joy as I open myself to His daily gifts like the stunning sunrise I experienced this morning, the friend I encountered on my morning walk who has been praying for us even though we haven’t talked for over a year, the artistry in the leaf I found on the sidewalk. I experience connection with God as I thank Him for these little surprises.
If you would like to connect more intimately with God try these ideas.
Find Quiet
There’s so much noise and distraction from phone notifications and streaming content on our devices to the noise our own children create inside our homes. Quite and solitude must be sought out and fought for if we are to hear God’s voice.
Experience Nature
Joyce Kilmer said it best,”Only God can make a tree.” Experiencing the outdoors is a conduit to the eternal and can enable you to hear more clearly from God as you’re away from your normal surroundings. A simple walk in a local park can make all the difference in your day.
Listen to Worship Music
Another quick way to enjoy God’s Presence is to listen to worship music. I personally love live worship sessions with Martin Smith or any Bethel music. You can find music for free on You Tube or by using a service like Spotify or Pandora.
Enjoy Contemplative Art
Art taps into the nature of God because it is an expression of our creativity — one of the characteristics we share with Him. Whether you sit in front of a stained glass window, walk through an exhibit of Impressionist paintings or doodle while praying silently, you can experience God through art.
Meditate on Truth
An easy way to tap into what God wants to speak to you is to read the Bible. Ask Him to give you a special verse to encourage you where you are right now. I especially like reading verses in The Message version and in the Amplified Bible because the language is so much more understandable. You can find Bible versions online at BibleGateway.com.
If you’d like to learn more about practical ways to find true happiness you’ll want to grab my eBook.
“Be Happy” is filled with ideas that have enabled me to find true and lasting joy in spite of my circumstances.
Tap here to read more.
How do you connect with God? Leave a comment. 🙂
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Hi Emily – I was just checking out Kimberlee’s book and saw your comment. I hope in the month since you wrote it, the pain is releasing its grip on your heart. Either way, I wanted you to know that I’m praying for you, too, today and asking God to pour His compassionate Love into you and replace all the darkness with His light. Don’t be numb. Breath in, breath out, live in that calm space between. You can do this.
Yes Emily! Absolutely you need to hang in and not give up — for the sake of your children and yourself.
I pray that God will breakthrough right now with His Presence and that He will pour His love and hope into you. I pray that you will have clarity of mind and that God will restore your joy.
You probably want to check into getting some counseling right away and possibly checking with your medical professional to see if you have anything physical going on.
Please check in and let me know how you are doing!
I love the gratitude journal idea Emilie!
I have been a believer for as long as i can remember. I have felt God’s presence many times throughout my life, yet depression has been a plague for most of my 34 years. I have a 12 year old daughter and an 8 year old son and absolutely REFUSE to give up, although the past 3 nearly impossible years in particular have drained me of almost everything I grasped onto. .. all that i knew of myself and of God. .. my hope, my faith, my comfort. I feel i have done all the things any person would do to be able to feel Gods presence again. I know all too well how hopeless life is without Him . But i only seem to lose more trust and hope in Him when He doesn’t answer. I realize this sounds so morbid and depressing and I’m so sorry for that. I KNOW God is my only hope.. I’ve poured out my heart to Him so many times, cried, begged, yelled. Does anyone have an experience like this who can possibly help by shedding light on my own? I’m desperate. It’s torturous. I think I’ve become so numb out of sheer survival, because it hurts so badly to feel the rejection or whatever it is. I want to live. I need to LIVE
I start my day with a devotion and end my day with a gratitude journal.
This is so true, Kim. I have a beautiful, fun, 8 month old son, and I used to think that when I got to this stage, I would automatically be very happy and spiritually mature, but I get depressed feeling sometimes, and making time to read the Bible and pray is the only way to get my perspective back on the truth. Also my relationship with him takes work and investment… the more time I spend with Him, the more able I am to distinguish his “voice”, or His desires for my life.
Thanks for your encouragement today, Kim!
That is so true Suzanne! It takes time to learn His voice. Thanks for taking the time to comment!