What do we want in life? Some may say health, wealth, and riches. Many today, might offer the over used word of the day “fun.”
But it seems reasonable to assume we want happiness, and that means many different things to many people. A great many lack what is really needed to be happy.
Would it surprise us to learn true happiness does not come with the things we often think of? I like what the following Chinese Proverb presents on true Happiness.
If you want happiness for an hour—take a nap. If you want happiness for a day—go fishing. If you want happiness for a month—get married. If you want happiness for a year—inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime—help others.
Psalms 41, many would agree, was written during the rebellion of Absalom and perhaps when David himself was or had been very ill. While it is true as king over Israel David had most of this worlds pleasures he does not thank God for them here.
So if all this worlds pleasures are not what leads King David to happiness what does. Note verses 1-3 where he thanks God’s Compassion in times of need.
Verses 4-9 David is thankful for Confession, knowing one can never gain true happiness without forgiveness of God.
Finally, he is thankful for the Confidence from the Lord to meet the new day and greet what is to come.
Surely, King David finds True Happiness in the Lord’s Compassion and in his own Confession unto the Lord. Then he rises to meet the day fully Confident the Lord is with him.
True Happiness is not in the abundance of things or people but in the answer of a good conscience unto the Lord standing by the Lords side daily.
