Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Published 4:48 pm Thursday, July 9, 2020

BY PASTOR DAVID ODOM

The words of a song that still stand true today and will remain forever “In this life we have some troubles, when we worry we make it double.” It’s easy to look around in the world and see all the chaos and craziness that 2020 has brought to us, but God sent a message of encouragement to us this week. In the book of Philippians chapter 4 Paul was talking to fellow Christians about some similar things that we are seeing today. Different times and different issues, but it lets us know that 2020 is not the first time the church has faced difficult times and difficult situations. As a matter of fact, the Bible is clear that this is not our home and that as Christians we are Pilgrims in this land and we are just passing through. But, if you have lived any time at all on this little blue ball called earth then you have seen or been through some tough times. Even though times are tough Paul says “Rejoice in the Lord always…and again I say rejoice.” A very odd request when someone is going through some difficult times, but if only he could have heard the lyrics of the song he might have said “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

Too often we waste time worrying about things that will never even come to pass and we borrow trouble from tomorrow. When Paul said “Rejoice Always” he meant in the good times, bad times, stressful times, uncertain times. Paul goes on in the chapter to talk about the peace of God. When you have God on your side there is a peace that comes to you as a part of that relationship that you can’t find anywhere else in this world. Many people try to duplicate that same peace in drugs and alcohol, they even try to find it in the security of a bank account or careers, but the peace of God is truly unexplainable. We are all going to face some tough times in the days ahead, but we can lean on God to give us the peace of mind during troubled and crazy times. Honestly, we have to lean on God because if it is not the current situation in the world, it will for sure be something else almost every day of our life. But the peace of God that passes all understanding….. that is what will carry you through. Then when you have the peace of God we also win the battle of anxiety.

The Bible tells us not to focus on the bad things but rather to “think on the good things.” Over in the book of James chapter 1 it tells us that our trials worketh patience. Let your trials serve a good purpose. I may have mentioned this before but I try to teach my kids that there is no such thing as losing. Now, let me explain (I’m not talking about trophies). Every single thing that you do in your life affects almost every single thing in your life. If we allow our kids to give up on something new or tough, then they will most likely always quit when something is new or tough. We teach them that in life you either win or you learn something. We can learn from other people’s mistakes and usually learn better from our own mistakes. However, through it all we never give up and never sit down. We just continue to get better and do better till we succeed and most importantly have a good attitude while we are learning. That is the only way that you will succeed in life.

The Bible also tells us not to be weary in well doing. Yes, even in the face of adversity, even in the face of failure, even in the face of those that aren’t nice to you. Keep on doing good things. No matter what we face in this life the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 4: 17-18 that “for our light afflictions, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” A very powerful scripture. Verse 18 says “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal: but the things which are not seen are eternal.” The only thing that we should worry about is if we don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ. If you don’t have that peace that lets you keep your chin up and a smile on your face even when your world seems to be falling down around you and you seem to be starring evil directly in the face, then the only place you will find that peace is through Jesus Christ. No matter what you’re going through “Don’t Worry and Be Happy.” You will come out better on the other side if you follow this lesson on “Don’t Worry Be Happy. “

I hope this has encouraged you in your walk of 2020. God Bless!