Happiness is fleeting. As much as we’d all like to say we’re happy every single moment, that’s simply not the truth.

So many things in life can toy with our emotions. Situations we face, people we encounter, news we hear about — all of these can uplift, discourage or frustrate us in a matter of moments. No matter how resilient or hardened you might be, the world will play — or has already played — with your emotions.

That’s why it’s so important to anchor ourselves in something other than fleeting emotions. Obviously, emotions are good things God created within us, and we use all of them to process life’s ups and downs. But if we rely on emotions to keep us stable during those hills and valleys, we’ll find ourselves on a chaotic roller coaster.

Stability comes from being grounded in something that doesn’t move; it comes from being anchored. Yes, a ship that is anchored will experience the rolling waves, but it won’t be displaced by them.

If we’re anchored in low self-value or inadequacy, then the moment hard times come, we’ll see ourselves as inadequate, unable to overcome the obstacle. If we’re anchored in arrogance or pride, then we’ll likely rely too much on our own abilities and fail or fall short.

Instead, we need to anchor ourselves to the One who is constant: “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

He is our anchor, our hope, who keeps us grounded when the world tries to turn us over. He draws us closer into His presence where we experience His love, peace and safety.

“This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” (Hebrews 6:19 NLT)

When we are in God’s presence, we are dwelling in the source of all joy, because “in His presence is fullness of joy.” (Psalm 16:11) This isn’t fleeting happiness that depends on our emotions. This is joy that comes directly from God and that is available no matter how you feel.

This is how we are able to rejoice through the ups and downs of life. When we anchor ourselves to God, choosing to dwell in His presence, He saturates our souls with His limitless joy.

The prophet Habakkuk understood this when he wrote the verses in Habakkuk 3:17-18.

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.”

Yet I will rejoice. Even when Coronavirus worries are rampant; even when tornadoes destroy and disrupt; even when the political sphere is in turmoil and uncertainty; even when my life doesn’t go as planned; even when it seems like there’s nothing to rejoice about. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.

 

BY JEN ENGLISH
You can follow Jennifer English on her personal blog https://jensrandommusings.wordpress.com/
Author

Jen English is a full-time technology editor who loves to write. She is a Sunday School teacher and member of the worship team at her local church. Her other interests include black coffee, basketball, photography, and the New England Patriots. You can follow Jen on her personal blog: https://jensrandommusings.wordpress.com

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