there is only one way

it really seems to me that the story of everyone's life is pretty much the same. we all want the same things in life. to be happy, prosperous, and have peace is really what motivates us to go forward in life and find the desire of our hearts. we all may have different ideas of what will make us happy. some want a high paying corporate job and think that will get them what they want. some want to find someone to love them and raise a few kids together thinking that is what will make them happy. some want to live in the city where all the action is and some want to live in the country where there are more animals than people. some people think they need to have made a name for themselves some way before they will ever be truly happy. but, what makes us all the same is that we all want to be happy and we set out in life to figure out what it is that will bring that to pass in our life.

some peopele struggle harder than others to find these things because the intensity of trials and hardships in their lives make grasping their dreams more difficult. but, it really seems that most of us all go through pretty similar lives. we all deal with garbage from our past. we all have trials to overcome in our lives now. and we are all hoping that our future contains the blessings of happiness, prosperity, and peace.

the life that we have all been given can make us better, by looking to the one Who loves us, to bring that to pass in our life. or, it can make us bitter because we are just mad that we have to go through so much and it does not seem that anyone else has to go through what we do, which is not true, but it seems that way when we are stuggling so badly sometimes. the truth is, every person has hurdles to jump and bullets to dodge to keep them from being defeated in their journey to find what they are looking for. we have an enemy that makes sure of this.

the truth of the matter is that there is only one thing that truly makes a person happy. no matter what circumstances may come our way, happiness and peace and spiritual prosperity can be experienced and greatly evident in all of our lives. God created us with an empty hole in us that desires to be happy and live in peace. and, He made Himself be the only way that hole could ever be filled. true happiness is only possible when there is peace. peace is what happens when war and turmoil end. and, peace inside our heart, thoughts, and feelings is only possible through Jesus.

when the angels announced the birth of Jesus, their first declaration was, "do not be afraid, i bring you good news of great joy which will come to all people....glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill toward all men."(Luke 2:10-14) Jesus continues to confirm that peace is available in Him. In John 14:27, He says, "Peace I leave with you, My own peace I now give to you." In John 16:33, He tells us that in this world we will encounter trials, tribulations and distresses that are not brought about by Him. He came to bring peace in the midst of them. we can have perfect peace in Him, knowing that He has already conquered the power within the world and the peace that He has acquired is now ours through Him. and in Isaiah 9:6, He is called the Prince of Peace, the One who maintains our peace for us.

we are all looking for the war and turmoil to end in our lives and the peace that follows. but, there are not many roads to get there. you don't get there in your vocation or in the person you marry. you don't get there by driving the nicest car or living in the nicest home. you can't find it in fame. you can't find it knowledge. there is only one way to get to attain the desire of our heart! there is only one way! JESUS!