I Don’t Have to Be Happy All the Time

In review of Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 it says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens . . . a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” (NIV).

Today’s verses are from Ecclesiastes 3. In it Solomon says that everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses. He sets the time for sorrow and the time for joy, the time for mourning and the time for dancing,

Solomon's point in this chapter is that God has a plan for everyone. Thus, he provides cycles of life, each with its work for me to do. Although I may face many problems that seem to contradict God's plan, these should not be barriers to me believing in and trusting him, but rather as opportunities to discover that, without God, this life's problems have no lasting solutions. 

Timing is important. All the experiences listed in these verses from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 are appropriate at certain times. The secret to peace with God is to discover, accept, and appreciate God's perfect timing for these. The danger would be for me to doubt or resent God's timing. This can ultimately lead to despair, rebellion, or moving ahead without his advice.

No doubt, this life is tough. Because of Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden, the world is broken and nothing works perfectly. My body doesn’t work perfectly, the weather doesn’t work perfectly, the economy doesn’t work perfectly, no relationship works perfectly. Life is full of losses.

I need to understand a couple of truths that will give me a better perspective as I face the inevitable losses in my life and rise above them.

First, God doesn’t expect me to be happy all the time. There is this myth that Christ follower’s should be always smiling, always happy, always cheerful. In fact, the Bible says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens . . . a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 NIV).

Sometimes I’ll find that the only appropriate, logical response to life is grief. The Bible says I am to grieve over my losses, including my disappointments, my sin, the suffering in the world, and my friends who are spiritually lost. God doesn’t expect me to be happy all the time. In fact, he wants me to be intentional in your grief. 

Second, grief is essential to my health.

If I never grieve over anything, it means one of three things: I’m out of touch with reality, I’m out of touch with my own emotions, or I don’t love. When I love and I see sad things, grief is a natural response.

Grief is a painful emotion, but it’s also a healthy and helpful emotion. And it’s God’s gift. It’s a tool that God gives me to get through the transitions of life.

If I don’t grieve, I’ll get stuck emotionally, and I’ll spend the rest of my life reacting to something that happened a long time ago and taking it out on the people around me now. It’s unhealthy!

David talked about this in Psalm 32:3: “When I kept things to myself, I felt weak deep inside me. I moaned all day long” (NCV).

The bad things that happen to me are not always my choice. But grief is a choice. I may say, “I don’t like feeling sad.” Not everything that’s helpful and healthy feels good. I’ve got to let myself mourn losses so that I can move on with my life and receive God’s blessing.

Bottom Line:

There is a time for everything.

What this means to me:

Everything that happens is God's timing. He is the one that sets the timing.

In summary, everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses. He sets the time. He has a plan and provides cycles of life, each with its work for me to do. Timing is important. The secret to peace with Go is to discover, accept, and appreciate God's perfect timing for these. The danger would be for me to doubt or resent God's timing. Life is tough, the world is broken and nothing works perfectly. First, God doesn't expect me to be happy all the time. At times the only appropriate and logical response to life is grief. Secondly grief is essential to my health. Grief is painful, but it's also a healthy and helpful. It's God's gift, a tool to get me through the transitions of life. The bad things that happen to me are not always my choice, but grief is. I've got to let myself mourn losses so that I can move on with my life and receive God's blessing. 

God picks the timing on things, he has a plan and provides cycles of life, each with its own things for me to accomplish. I need to accept it. I may even need to grieve over it. This morning Father, I ask for your clarity on any areas I need to grieve, but also within it, that which you want to do with me through it. I need to also reflect on the things that are happening around me. What do I need to learn and do as a result. I also pray for your wisdom and guidance for my day. Help me be the leader you want me to be. Help me to respond rightly to those around me. These things I pray through your Son Jesus name, amen.