GOD IS GREATER. :)

Happiness Or Joy

Akala ko noon, happiness is the best feeling ever. Kasi, iyon naman ang hinahabol ng lahat. Iyon ang gustong makamit ng lahat. Everyone is chasing for their happiness. No matter what it takes, they will do everything just to get a happy ending. Para lang makuha yung happiness na pinakaaasam nila.

Kapag kasi nasa state ka na ng happiness, parang na sa'yo na ang lahat, di ba? Iyong tipong satisfied ka na. Kasi nakuha mo na 'yung gusto mo.

Pero nitong nakaraan lang, nalaman ko na happiness is not really the best feeling of all. Kasi, kung gaano ito kahirap makuha ay siya ring dali nitong mawala. Bakit? Dahil nakadepende ito sa mga bagay o tao na pwedeng mawala o magbago.

''Happiness has its roots in desire pleasure or self beneficial situations.'' Its the thing or person that you desire for your own benefit. Halimbawa, bagong gadget, paborito mong movie, or yung taong gustong gusto mo. Na kapag nakuha mo sila, that's when you become happy. Regardless of saan galing 'yung gadget, kung pirated iyong napanood mo o may nasaktan kang tao sa pagkuha sa taong gusto mo, as long as you have them, masaya ka. Happiness can also lead to selfishness, that's a sad fact.

But there is a greater feeling than happiness. Some people are aware of this, but most are not. Because we are blinded by the world who give us wrong perception of things.

That feeling is joy. And just simply having God in the center of your life, already allows you to experience joy. Why? Because God's love is greater than any other things. More than your favorite gadget, favorite movie or the people you love.

When you have GOD in your life, that's when your heart is filled with joy. Why? Dahil iba ang pagmamahal ni Lord. Iba iyong care niya, iyong support at embrace niya. Iba iyong sayang binibigay niya. Hindi iyon conditional, hindi dependent sa ibang bagay. Masaya ka kahit wala kang bagong gamit, kahit hindi mo napanuod yung favorite mong movie, kahit hindi ka gusto ng taong gusto mo. Kasi naiintindihan mo na hindi will ni Lord 'yun para sa'yo ang mga iyon. Na baka hindi iyon makakabuti para sa'yo. Na may mas magaganda pang bagay na inilaan si Lord para sa'yo.

''JOY is our weapon against depression.''

Either we like it or not, dumarating ang mga pagsubok sa buhay. ''Ang buhay ay parang gulong, minsan nasa itaas, minsan nasa ilalim.'' ika nga. Minsan, masaya ka, tila nakaayon sa'yo ang panahon. Pero hindi rin nawawala yung mga panahon na nalulungkot ka. Nagkamali ka, nadapa, na-reject, hinusgahan, hindi mo nakuha 'yung gusto mo, hindi ka na-appreciate, madaming dapat i-accomplish, walang progress, pakiramdam mo, walang magandang resulta, na para bang, ang lupit sa'yo ng tadhana. Everything goes in contrary to what is planned. Kaya you get stressed, depressed and tired. But then again, kapag binalikan mo 'yung love ni Lord, it will brings back the joy in you. It suddenly becomes your weapon. Na parang sinasabi mo, ''Sige lang, you shoot me down, but I won't fall because I have God in my heart. Kahit ano pang pagsubok ang iparanas mo sakin, I won't feel down, dahil kasama ko si Lord.''

Another thing, when you have God in your life, every good deed follows. Kasi, alam mo na gusto ni God na maging generous ka, magalang, mapagkumbaba, mabait at mapagmahal sa kapwa. You become a better person without you noticing it.

Isang araw, mari-realize mo nalang. ''Woah! Ang laki na pala ng pinagbago ko. Di na ako nanlalait ng kapwa, hindi na ako nagmumura, hindi na ako sumasagot sa mga magulang ko, hindi na ako madamot, hindi na ako nagyayabang, hindi na ako nai-insecure. My heart is just filled with joy na kaya kong gawin lahat para kay Lord.''

Ang sarap yatang marinig iyon, ano? I'm sure, you'll make God smile kapag narinig niya iyon mula sa'yo. Na kaya mong gawin lahat para sa kanya. Mawala man ang lahat sa'yo, hindi ka bibitaw sa kamay niya. Hindi ka susuko sa pagmamahal sa kanya. Kasi, siya? Hindi siya sumuko sa'yo.

Makikita mo lahat ng bagay na iyon. Lahat ng bagay na ginawa niya para sa'yo. And that alone will give you joy. Masaya ka, having your family that love you so much, your friends that you can always be with and GOD that loves you eternally.

Pakiramdam mo, kompleto ka na at wala ka ng hahanapin pa. Hindi mo makikita ang kulang, kase wala naman talagang kulang. At makikita mo, ang lahat ng meron ka, na binigay sayo ni Lord.

''Everything you have and whoever you are right now, wherever position you may be in, its all because of God's grace.''

Wag nating kakalimutan na lahat ng naa-achieve natin, napagtatagumpayan natin iyon hindi dahil sa sarili nating kaalaman, lakas o kakayahan. Kundi dahil kay Lord.

So now, would you still chase for happiness? Or switch to experience joy instead? If you chose the latter, learn to accept God in your heart, first. Remember, Jesus died on the cross to save us. That's how God's love us. That he gave his only son just to save us from our sins. We must be grateful. That's how amazing God is. Lets bring back the glory to our Lord.

Song of the day:
🎶 I am favored, I am blessed
By the cross, and the blood that was shed
I am favored, I am blessed
I can do all things
Because of what you've done for me 🎶

Let us pray:
Lord, thank you for your unfailing love. Thank you for holding on to us. May you continue to filled our hearts with joy and may we learn to accept and follow your will and response to your calling. Also, may we share joy with others. We just want to bring back the honor, all the glory to you, oh Lord. We love you. This we say in Jesus name we pray. Amen.