Reasonably Happy In This Life

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4 NKJV)

Life in recovery can be challenging at times.  We have joy in the fact that we are no longer in the pit of our addiction, but we are on an unfamiliar path and need to learn new ways to cope with what is going on inside us. We have been the “experts” in surviving in our dysfunctional lifestyle, but now we are the “newbies” in coping with life in recovery. Thankfully, God has promised to be with us throughout the transition process. 

God called us out of darkness and invites us to walk in the light of His presence.  Like any child learning to walk we may stumble as we take steps on this unknown path, but God is with us, and has promised to take us by the hand and guide us.  He will never let go.  Like a good Father, God rejoices with us when we keep going and, if we stumble and fall, He encourages us to get up and continue our journey.  

In addiction we were in utter despair.  In our new life in recovery, we experience increasing joy as we persist through the trials we encounter. God is always calling us to fullness of joy in Him which is two fold – reasonable happiness in this life and supreme happiness with God forever in the next. 

Prayer:  God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.  Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.  Taking as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it, trusting that you will make all things right if I surrender to Your will so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with you forever in the next.  Amen

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