How To Have a Happy Heart in Hard Times

“A happy heart makes the face cheerful.”

You may have heard the following words come from someone’s mouth:

• I just want to be happy.
• I want my kids to be happy.
• If I only had (fill in the blank), I would be happy.

Happiness can come from so many places, but it usually comes from our circumstances. Some of these circumstances we can control, but many we cannot. That’s why I want to give you 3 tips to finding your happy heart even in hard times.

1. Rehearse the positives in your situation.

It’s easy to see the negatives in a difficult situation. It goes against the grain of human nature to choose the positive to focus on. However, it can happen.

Recently my mom went through a health scare that landed her in the hospital for four days. My siblings and I took turns staying with her there so she would not be alone. Even though she could have let fear and anxiety take over her thoughts of what the future might hold, she chose a happy heart. Each hospital staff member that came into her room was introduced to her children. She consistently rehearsed aloud how blessed she was to have her kids with her, knowing many of her hospital neighbors were alone.

She continually told those who called about the incredible care she received instead of dwelling on her long recovery. You see, she chose to rehearse the positives in order to choose a happy heart.

2. Seek Supernatural help.

The human emotion of happiness is a normal emotion that comes and goes with circumstances. However, even when circumstances warrant unhappiness, it is possible for the Creator to draw us to a place reserved for those who seek his help and guidance.

I am reminded of the hardest time in my life, as I prepared to bury my father. He died suddenly, even though he was an active, vibrant, healthy man. I remember distinctly the first night I tried to sleep after his death. The house was full with out-of-town family. We finally all fell asleep, but I awoke within a couple of hours.

I proceeded to walk through the house to check on my mom and my children. I watched them sleep peacefully for a few minutes and realized the prayers I had been saying, seeking peace over our hearts, were being answered with sweet sleep. There was a distinct feeling of peace that blanketed our household. I had never felt anything so real.

Philippians 4 tells us that the peace of God that we can’t even understand will guard our hearts and our minds. I am a believer.

3. Surround yourself with people with perspective.

It’s easy to fall into the habit of seeing circumstances in a negative light. But a positive perspective is contagious. A beautiful eighty year old soul that I know models this in an incredible way. She has had her share of trials, but through each trial she reminds herself and others to give thanks in all circumstances.

She takes the words of I Thessalonians 5:18 quite literally.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

One of my favorite stories of living out this life motto is when a Christmas box delivered to her front porch was stolen. The box contained over $500 in gifts and gift cards. After giving thanks for this thoughtless action taken against her, my friend found out that the gift cards were used to buy children’s clothes and diapers. From this beautiful woman’s perspective, her prayers of thanks were justified.

Surrounding myself with this perspective may just become contagious. I can only hope!

It’s inevitable that trials of all kinds will find their way into our lives. Instead of defaulting to the usual victim mentality, it’s time to try something new.

Yes, it’s possible to have a happy heart in hard times.

Give it a try!

 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, remembering that as members of the same body you are called to live in harmony, and never forget to be thankful for what God has done for you.

Colossians 3:15