Destination Disease

Week 1 - Day 3
(I need to add that I did not write these devotionals. I got them from Seymour Harvest of Seymour, IN. I believe the worship leader Deborah wrote them. :-) )

"I will be happy when_________ happens." We can fill in the blank with whatever we think is the key for our joy to begin. For example: "I will be joyful when I move out of the house, or when I get married, or when I have children, or when I get more money, or when I get a new home, or when the kids are in school, or when the kids leave home, or when I retire, ore when this circumstance changes, or..."

The "I will be happy when" mindset is called destination disease. This is a malady that plagues multitudes and is rooted in the belief that joy depends on changed circumstances. Certainly circumstances play a role in our positive emotions (we cannot deny the difficulty that life can bring at certain times), but ultimately we need to find inner victory over the giants of discontent and discouragement.

Paul said, "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound..." (Philippians 4:10-11). He learned to be inwardly successful to matter if he was prospering or if he was in lack.

Paul apparently had a season in his life when he focused on (and was learning about) the development of the inner soul prosperity of being content (3John 2). We too need a time like this in our lives. It will never seem convenient to do so, but it is necessary in order to develop a life of joy.

Here is a truth to ponder: if we are not joyful now, then we will probably not be joyful then (when circumstances change). The root issue is in us, not in our current situations. Let's overcome destination disease and determine today to live in a new level of rejoicing and celebration in G-d's promises. As we do so, we will find our joy becoming a "faith weapon" to change things like never before.

Declaration: I have overcome destination disease. I am learning to be content and joyful now. I am breaking through the lie that says I can only be happy if certain things change. I rejoice now in G-d's goodness and in His promises. I can and will be joyful now.