I’m working my dream job right now (entering my second year of teaching at a homeschool co-op).

How many people can say that?

I’m at a church right now where I’m feeling really good. I’m wanted there, given numerous opportunities to minister, and God is moving people to Him. More and more, God confirms I’m right where I need to be (though we could all stand a ten-degree drop in this brick oven of an Arkansas summer).

Not everyone can say that.

I’m out of debt, and have been for a while.

Especially these days, who can say that?

In the last month, I’ve experienced significant healing of some chronic knee pain that’s been bugging me for a couple years. I was starting to get seriously worried. Now, after some gym work (do a little research on unbalanced leg muscles, y’all) and some lost weight, the problem seems well on its way to being solved.

Again…

Sigh. I almost feel bad at telling you all these things because I know others suffer. Nagging issues, disheartening obstacles, tragedies that just don’t seem to find solutions.

But in reality, I have some very good news for you.

Happiness is not found in breakthrough.

Because even with all these blessings, I find a certain emptiness gnawing at me lately.

I know that because I’ve been forgetting to be happy for a while, and that’s happened when I forget thankfulness. I drift a bit from the Scriptures, from morning prayer, from the other spiritual disciplines, and sure enough it ends up being fullness and joy I’m drifting from. It doesn’t come because of blessings. It doesn’t just show up in the mail or kick in automatically like the fridge.

And that can be very freeing for all of us, because the Scriptures bear a glorious promise: you can have joy where you are, because every person has so much to be thankful for right now. If Paul could write from prison that he was joyous in his thankfulness, we know this to be true.

I used to really yoink at that idea. No, God. Just fix things. You owe me. What an ugly and narrow posture. And all because I was too lazy and pride-wounded to try out God’s suggestions. Good grief – why would I be turning down fullness and joy? Amazing how we sabotage ourselves.

Sure enough, I have learned that accepting such a gift from God often involves some pride-swallowing. But once that’s done, it really is a better time.

Pride will block you as well. What, I’m supposed to just ignore all God has allowed to happen? Let Him off the hook? Be thankful on His terms?

Yes.

Sorry to be so blunt. But I’ve found out that it really does come down to that, to whether we’re willing to believe what He says about Himself. Why not skip all the maneuvering and try it His way? Especially if it can help insulate us from the pain of the very things we suffer now.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. (Psalm 34:8)

Taste and see. Don’t just look; take action. Try it.