An Obstacle To Happiness

 

 

For me, happiness is elusive; either I cannot figure out what it is that will make me happy, or more often I think I know what it is but it is not mine for the taking.I do not need much...just this one more thing that I do not happen to have. I would use it for God’s glory, surely I would. And the good things I desire, are the longings not from Him?

 

Trials, dashed dreams, and unfulfilled desires mark my path like obstacles standing in the way of the happy life I dream of. But yesterday as I read in the book of Numbers I had to ask this question. What if instead these things being obstacles, they are actually roadblocks protecting me from danger and unhappiness I do not want to encounter?

 

Life is just plain hard; we live in a fallen world where evil abounds, I am not trying to sugar coat that. On the other hand, my life exists for God’s plans and pleasure and not the other way around.

 

In Numbers 22 we read of a prophet of God named Balaam. The king of Moab, Balak, asked Balaam to come and curse the people of Israel, but Balaam refused. Balak was persistent and kept sending servants to Balaam in hopes that he would change his mind. Balaam told the last round of servants to stay the night and he would see what God would say.

 

“ And God came to Balaam at night and said to him ‘If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.’” Numbers 22:20 (ESV)

 

The next thing we read is this.

 

“So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.” Numbers 22:21 (ESV)

 

So there was Balaam, traveling down a road he thought he wanted to be on. As he was riding, his donkey veered off the road and into a field. Balaam tried getting the donkey back on the road, but for some reason the donkey refused to go where Balaam was leading. Baalam got mad and hit the donkey, at which point the donkey spoke. Now a talking donkey will get your attention no matter how set you are on your mission. 

 

“Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, 'What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?' Numbers 22:28 (ESV)

 

“Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.” Numbers 22:31 (ESV)

 

There are times in which God does not allow us on to travel down a road we think we want to be on, perhaps a road of deliverance from a trial, or a road which leads to the fulfillment of a dream or a desire we have. Perhaps the barricades we encounter on these perceived roads of “happiness” are not punishments but acts of grace. Deliverance may come someday, perhaps our dreams will be realized, just not yet. Or maybe there is gold yet to come from the trial, or perhaps the longings of our heart can be used to stir a deeper longing, a longing for God Himself.

 

We may never know why some roads we long to travel are blocked, but we do know from the roadmap of scripture that true happiness is more exclusive than it is elusive. True happiness, comfort, and fulfillment are found in God. He is nearer than a prayer, and happiness is just a short road home.
 

 

"For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints."              Proverbs 2:6,7,8 (ESV)