Where Happiness Is Found
By D. H. KRESS, M. D.
“GREAT peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Here we have the secret of true happiness. Peace of mind does not depend on where we are, but upon what we are. Each one possesses in himself the source of his own happiness or wretchedness. Circumstances have but little to do with the experiences of the soul. How many deceived souls think they would be happy if only their surroundings could be a little different. Sooner or later such will discover that happiness can never be gained by a change of surroundings; the only change that can ever bring it is a change of heart. Hagar, Sarai’s maid, evidently made this mistake. “Her mistress was despised in her eyes, . . . and when Sarai [her mistress] dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness. . . . and he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.” She was certainly not happy in her present surroundings; happiness could not be gained by fleeing. So “the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.” There Hagar could obtain what she was seeking. Hagar had an experience to gain which could not be gained by fleeing from what she supposed to be unfavorable surroundings. It was not a change of surroundings that was needed; Hagar needed a change of heart. The angel said to her what he says to every one who is trying to secure happiness in the same way, “Whither wilt thou go” to find it? “Return . . . and submit thyself;” only in this way shall we be able to secure happiness. “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” When our enemies are not at peace with us, it is frequently, if not always, due to some fault in us. Had Hagar not despised her mistress, no doubt Sarai would not have dealt hardly with her. The Lord permitted Sarai to deal hardly with Hagar, for her sake. “It must needs be that offenses come,” just as long as something remains that is unchristlike. Not until we have overcome on every point, shall our ways perfectly please the Lord, and we be free from these offenses and trials. Offenses that injure one prove a blessing to another. The water that proved a wall of protection to Israel, swallowed up the Egyptians. The same flame of fire which slew the men that cast Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego into the fiery furnace, only consumed the cords that bound the usefulness of these three Hebrew captives; there was not even the smell of fire on their garments. Satan watches closely the lives of all; he makes a careful note of words and actions; he understands every weak point in character, and he always assails on the weakest points, hoping to destroy. God permits him to assail us, to reveal to us our weaknesses, that we may lay hold of his grace and overcome. Thus God makes the wrath of man and of Satan to praise him. Ps. 76: 10. These experiences will develop character, and bring peace within, which is followed by peace without. Whenever Israel did right, they had rest from all their enemies; when they sinned, the Lord permitted their enemies to assail them. When they cried for help, humbled themselves, and overcame, the Lord gave them rest again. This experience was repeated over and over, just as it is with us. Of Solomon the Lord said, what he says of every one, “If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men.” Solomon in his life’s experience found this to be true. This led him to say, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” The trouble that comes from without is designed to correct the trouble that exists within. It is always a call to prayer. To take up arms in self-defense or to flee from the surroundings means a moral defeat. Could our eyes be anointed, we would say of every place where we meet severe trials, as did Jacob, “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.” All things work together for good, to those who trust in the Lord, but those who do not trust in the Lord see only evil in that which is designed for their good. True happiness and contentment must be found where we are, or it will never be found. Wahroonga, N. S. W., Australia.