Where is your "happy place"; that place where you feel content, relaxed, and at peace?
Growing up in Oregon, my happy place was at the beach. If you have been to the Oregon coast, you know that rarely is it playing in the surf that brings you joy. The joy of the Oregon coast is found in the stunning blend of rugged mountains and picturesque beaches, where, in the summer, you will commonly awake to a cool marine layer mist, and as the clouds burn off, the average high will be in the 60s. For me, be it walking on the beach with the morning mist or enjoying the warmth of the sun as the clouds burn off, this is my happy place.
USDictionary.com says: "A "happy place" typically refers to a location or state of mind where an individual feels most comfortable and content. It's a concept that varies greatly from person to person, as it is deeply personal and subjective. For some, it might be a childhood home, a favorite vacation spot, or a quiet room. For others, it could be an imagined scene, such as a peaceful beach or a serene forest."
God has uniquely created each of us. This means that the place where you feel content and happy will likely be different from mine. I once told a friend how yardwork was invigorating for me. He was aghast; for him, yardwork was tedious, not relaxing. While I can worship God working the earth of His creation with my hands, he found a similar release by reading a book.
So, where is your happy place? That place you go, to sit at the Lord's feet in peace and listen to Him. With our lives so filled with busyness and activities, we can find it challenging to simply sit, relax, and listen. If this is true for you, you’ll be wise to remember Ecclesiastes 3:7 that there is "A time to be quiet and a time to speak." Though being quiet can be a struggle, it is critical to hear from God.
In our happy, tranquil space, our minds can drift away from the noise of daily life to have a conversation with God. It matters little if it's while pulling weeds in your garden, walking along a beach or a forest trail, or laying in a hammock reading a book. The place is secondary to finding a sacred space of solitude and tranquility spent purposefully seeking out, listening to, and communicating with God.
The Psalmist encourages us to find this place with the simple words, "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) Amid our chaotic lives, we must quiet our minds to find God's peace and presence. If we do not, the peace and contentment we long for, that happy place, will be elusive.
What does it mean to be "still and know I am God"? At its core, it's about finding rest and peace in God's presence. It's a call to slow down, to quiet our minds and hearts, and to trust in God's goodness and sovereignty. It means to stop, be inactive, let go and relax. The command to be still is also translated as "cease striving," "surrender," "stop," "desist," and "make peace." What will this look like for you?
While I enjoy how the sounds of the ocean drown out the competing noises, it only offers a temporary reprieve. We need something more, something lasting to give us the rest we need. The where is less important than the how.
Psalm 1 offers instructions about where this happiness, joy, and contentment is found. "How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the LORD's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night." (Psalm 1:1–2)
Ultimately, my happy place will only bring me true happiness by bringing me closer to the Lord. Otherwise, as Solomon says, "I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile—like chasing the wind!" (Ecclesiastes 1:14) Happiness isn't found in a place or an activity, it comes from looking to the Lord Jesus.
It is by resting in the finished work of Christ that we know the peace that was purchased for us through his death and resurrection. Here is the ultimate happy place; a place that is not defined by our experience, but one that is received by faith.
Comments