5 Surefire Ways To Be Unhappy in Life

Here are five great ways to be unhappy about life.

Discontentment

The Apostle Paul had to learn contentment. Don’t think it’s easy because this spiritual giant had to learn how to deal with imprisonments, stonings, lashes, and deprivation of food, clothing, and friends. Paul told the church at Phillippi, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” (Phil. 4:11). Paul had lots of opportunities to learn contentment, writing, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need” (Phil. 4:12). How is this possible? He answers, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).

A Lack of Trust

If you are in a hard place right now, it’s even harder to trust God, isn’t it? Well, think about this. If you can trust God in the dark times, see with the eyes of faith, and believe God’s Word that everything is going to work out for your best (Rom. 8:28), then you prove that your faith in God is strong. If you worry about things, that is simply a lack of trust. I know because I’ve been there. Try this analogy: Your son or daughter comes up to you and you promise them something. Our precious heavenly Father has promised us some things that are sure to come (John 3:16, Acts 4:12). So if a human father or mother would be there for their own child, how much more can you trust the God Who not only owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10) but owns the hills, too!

Focus on Things and Not People

Worrying doesn’t help; more than that, it actually hurts. There is strong scientific evidence that worry can shorten your life and increase the probabilities of having an addiction. Solomon wrote, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Prov. 17:22), proving my point that worry doesn’t add anything to your life; it only subtracts from it. It also robs you of your joy today.

Compare Yourself

The Apostle Paul warned the church about comparing themselves to others by what others have and not by how they live. We should be comparing ourselves to Christ and modeling our lives after Him. Paul wrote, “Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understand” (2 Cor. 10:12). Try comparing yourself with the vast majority of the world and you’ll find you’re doing a lot better than most.

Conclusion

This might be the first devotional I have ever written to give you a certain number of ways to do something negative. The purpose is so you would “un-do” these things in your life and go from unhappy to happy. The Bible never promises happiness; however, it does promise joy, peace, assurance, things that should make you happy. It makes me happy just thinking about them.