Do you ever take time to really look at people? You will be amazed at what you see.

I will look at people’s expressions, demeanors, and attitudes just to observe what I’m dealing with. I find myself asking, “What’s bothering this person?” or “Why is this person so angry and unhappy?” The sad truth is that the majority of people don’t look happy. I was so encouraged this past Sunday as I looked at the congregation of Victory Baptist Church. As I looked at their expressions and demeanors, I saw a lot of happy faces. I saw a group of people that looked happy to be where they were. One of the most miserable places to be is in a place where you are not happy. I want us to look at two applications concerning happiness, the physical and spiritual.

Concerning the physical application let me first say, you will never be truly content and happy if you are not a born again believer in Jesus Christ. Unhappiness leads to abandonment. Do you wonder why so many people are unhappy where they are physically? This very well may be why. Why do people get dissatisfied at their place of worship? Well I want to propose three reasons. One, it may be they are under conviction concerning their current spiritual state. Two, it may be a spiritually dead and dried up church and you know you are not where you are supposed to be. Three, you are not getting spiritually fed. Physical hunger can cause irritation but spiritual hunger is much more severe. Not only unhappiness, but weakness, vulnerability, and drifting takes place. These three places are not in God’s will for your life.

Now, let’s look at the spiritual application. I realize I’ve touched on this already and they do interchange some, but there is a place of misery spiritually for the lost as well as the saved people. For the lost person let me simply say you will never fully understand true happiness, contentment, peace, and love without first knowing the creator and giver of these blessings. You may have moments but one day you will realize that the “void” in your life can only be filled by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Why don’t you just run up the white flag of surrender and ask Jesus to fill the emptiness and the Prince of Peace will make you a new creature out of you. Now if you are saved and living in a place of misery it shows on your face. You may try to hide it and you may say I don’t care who knows. Let me ask you, do you care if God knows? Misery in the life of a believer is rooted in rebellion against God, which produces a backslidden Christian. This simply means you are not as close to the Lord as you once were. You need to be like the prodigal son and come home to the father.

A happy face is produced on the outside because there is a close walk with God on the inside. Make your way to a good place of worship this coming Lord’s Day and see what He will do for you.

Tune in to WBCU 103.5 FM Sundays at noon for the Shining Light Broadcast. I preach a 15-minute message that I pray will be a blessing to those who listen. If you have a prayer concern, comment, or question, please write to: Voice of Victory, Attn: David Burrell, PO Box 1221, Pacolet, SC 29372 or e-mail me at daveburrell@live.com.