Lesson #2 :Happiness

James 1:2 "Count it all joy, my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds, for the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." John 15:22 "So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and and no one will take your joy from you" True happiness can not be dependent on relationships or circumstances. If that's what your happiness is reliant upon you will never be truly happy. You may feel happy for a time, but it won't last. Now I don't mean to come across as a downer but this is something I'm not gonna put lightly. I have battled not letting my circumstances and situations define me. I was miserable, nothing pleased me. I'd go out with friends put on my "happy face" and come home and cry. I was looking at what I was missing, not what I have.  I wasn't happy until I realized my happiness is dependent on no one but myself. I needed to look for the good in situations, to see the positive amongst the negative, to be thankful for another day to live and breathe, to count it a privilege to serve my Savior every day.  This didn't click for me until talking to a friend a couple weeks ago. He reminded me of the fact that despite the fact I've lost a lot of people in my life, I still have friends who love me for me. Gods still God and He has me where I am for a reason. So, I challenge you what's the cause of your happiness? Is it your friends? Your family? A sport? A hobby? It's not wrong for these things in life to make you happy, but they can quickly become the source of your happiness and even become an idol. It can be gone in a instant, your friendships can fall apart, your family can become divided, you can become unable to participate in those activities you love. When trials come you can look for the good that come from the situation as "all things work together for the good of those who love and serve The Lord" (Romans 8:28)  Build your happiness on something that lasts, the hope that one day all things will be made new, the unconditional love of Jesus, and the faithfulness of our God. This can change your life. When you find true happiness through knowing Jesus and giving everything for Him your life will never be the same.