It’s taken me a long time to realise that I am not responsible for everyone’s happiness and contentment. None of us can be that for another. All we can do is love people with open arms and help them where we are able. We set ourselves up for failure, disappointment and heartache if we try to do anything else, for in the process we can lose who and what God has called us to be. The fact is that no one can make a person happy except that person and their own decisions, beliefs and individual relationship with their Creator.
Everyone has to figure out their own happy space and not put it on anyone else to fill it. So many husbands and wives, partners, parents, children, pastors, leaders and friends make this mistake. They try so hard to make those they love happy, while all the while neglecting the freedom there is to be found in being complete and joyful in themselves and who God has made them to be.
There is real energising power in keeping our focus, energy and perspective on who God has called each one of us. For when we get comfortable in who we are and don’t lose hold of what God has spoken and deposited within us it liberates and motivates others to find that space too. It’s in our happiness and fulfilment that we then become an inspiration and motivation to others; in that it is possible to live a peaceful, joy-filled and purposeful life, and that even when hard things happen we can overcome them and be okay.
Today don’t fall into the trap of being responsible for another’s happiness and sense of fulfilment. We are to encourage, pray for and believe the best for others, but we can’t compensate for what they haven’t yet hungered after and discovered for themselves. All God asks us to do is to let our lives shine and in doing so our lives will inspire and motivate others to believe for their best life too.
“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.” (Proverbs 4:25)
“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 15:23 NLT)
“As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us. We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!” (Hebrews 12:1-2 TPT)
Prayer: Lord help me not to feel like I have to accommodate and be responsible for everyone else at the expense of losing who I am. I just need to concentrate on living in that space of joy and intimacy with you so that my life overflows, and in being so I will automatically inspire and encourage all those around me. In Jesus Name Amen.
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