Recently I saw a television advert for a restaurant chain. It made a dramatic claim. The advert said that at those restaurants you could “Help Yourself to Happiness.” Wouldn’t it be nice if a helping of potatoes, meat or dessert would be all that was needed to provide happiness? Unfortunately no restaurant can fulfil that promise.

Happiness is a difficult thing to find—as we can see in almost every area of life. Our pursuit of happiness may involve food or a host of other things. Yet, in the end, happiness continues to escape our grasp.

Why? Mainly it’s because the things we tend to pursue do not begin to meet our deepest needs. Our interests only provide moments of enjoyment, distraction or pleasure. But our biggest need still goes unmet—the need for help and hope. That is why the psalmist points us to a better way when he says, “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God” (Ps. 146:5).

Help yourself? Yes—if we are seeking the happiness found in the Lord. It is only when we entrust ourselves to God and His care that we can find the happiness we seek. Our hope and help are found only in trusting Him.

Author

Bill Crowder

Topics

Our Daily Bread