Don't Worry. Be Happy!

        in 1988, Bobby McFerrin wrote a song that became quite popular with the title, “Don't Worry, Be Happy.” The opening lines begin with the words, “In every life we have some trouble But when you worry you make it double. Don't Worry, Be Happy.” The rest of the song follows suit and gives the idea of forcing yourself to be happy in spite of your circumstances. The opening line certainly has a lot of truth in it in that every life gives evidence quickly that there is some trouble in it. No matter how good it looks from a distance, you can soon find evidence of trouble. An action or a word will soon bring trouble into your life. Our trouble can soon be traced back probably to one of three areas, “the world, the flesh or the devil.” Even further, it can be traced back to “the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.” We have heard those terms before as they are used in the Scriptures. Has the believer no other choice but to grin and bear it and sing the little song, “Don't worry. Be Happy?” First Peter 5:6-7 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 

        Peter gives us a more tangible way of getting rid of “worries of life.” You don't have to put on a “happy face” in order to find peace in the midst of all of your problems. The passage for today continues with the plans of the devil for you and the all of the world. The devil is roaming about looking for something, or someone, to devour and he does it as does a roaring lion. Who wouldn't be fearful of that picture? Our recourse however, it to take our eyes off of our problems and put them on God by humbling ourselves before God. After all, God created the world and everything in it. God made us, you and me and He knows each and everyone of us.  He knows all about us as we recall from Psalm 139. He even knows the thoughts on your tongue. If humbling ourselves wasn't hard enough, then we are commanded, or exhorted to cast all of our care upon Him. Here lies two great, yet simple, requirements for true happiness. It won't be the “toothpaste” smile that is fake but the genuine inner happiness that is the result of casting all of our care upon Him and then leaving it there. God provided for us yesterday and God is providing for us at this moment and God will provide for us tomorrow. If any person ever had the right to express sadness, it would be men like Paul, Peter, Barnabas, Silas, Priscilla and Aquila. All of their reason for true happiness rested upon God and God alone. Into all of their lives would come a little trouble yet they cast all of their care upon God. We should do the same and in fact are exhorted to do so. In whatever you face today just remember to cast all of your care upon God. Praise God for His supplying all that we ever need both in this life and the next.