“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau
Is he right? What’s been your experience? Have you succeeded by fixating on your goals or did you stumble across it as you were dealing with other matters? What success tip would you tell a new employee at your workplace? How about a child at school?
Thoreau’s comment reminds me of the assertion that you can receive happiness but not pursue it. For example, French philosopher Albert Camus observed that “You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of.” And editor Vanae Keiser explains why: “The reason you will not find happiness is because it cannot be found. To have it, one must first create it.”
But how do you create happiness? What process do you follow? Thoreau appears to recommend that you absorb yourself in something–anything– other than happiness. And as you do, you’ll uncover it. Without even trying.
These insights call to mind the issue of sleep. You can’t make yourself fall asleep; it results from relaxing and letting go.
God designed us to enjoy success, happiness, and sleep. But if we chase after any of these, we’ll fail.
So what should we dedicate ourselves to and search for? What’s worth our time and effort and won’t disappoint us?
God!
The psalmist believed this:
“One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” – Psalm 27:4
“The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” – Psalm 34:10
“Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.” – Psalm 105:4
And Jesus did, too:
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” – Matthew 7:7-11
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” – Matthew 13:44-46
God alone is worthy of our wholehearted commitment. And as we seek Him, He delights to reward us with success, happiness, and yes, even sleep.
One way to pursue the Lord is by contemplating His Word. As we take the time to immerse ourselves in Scripture, we learn more about His will. And like what Thoreau promised, we realize success.
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” – Joshua 1:8
The same applies to prayer. According to Pastor Tim Keller, “Prayer is our way of entering into the happiness of God himself.” When we pray, we seek the Father. By His grace, we draw close to Him and absorb His goodness, including His joy. What a blessing!
Even sleep is a gift from God.
“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat–for he grants sleep to those he loves.” – Psalm 127:2
As disciples, we take our direction from Jesus. His Spirit refines our interests and guides our steps. And as we attend to Christ, He grants us success, happiness, and rest in surprising and indirect ways.
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