Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

Posted On June 21, 2020

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24 NIV

Max Lucado, in his book Every Day Deserves a Chance, talks about how hard it was the day he had to take his daughter to college. He said he was such a mess that he drove away from the gas station with the nozzle still in his gas tank — and yanked the hose right off the pump! Thinking about having to say goodbye to his daughter completely undid him. When they arrived at his daughter’s college dorm, someone had tacked Psalm 118:24 to the bulletin board: This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. He stopped and let the words sink in: This is the day the Lord has made. Rev. Lucado writes, “God made this day, ordained this hard hour, designed the details of this wrenching moment. . . . Each day emerges from God’s drawing room. Including this one.” Even on the toughest days, we can rejoice. In fact, God commands us to do so!

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Philippians 4:4 NIV

Every once in a while at church we have a service that focuses on worship — no sermon, no heavy soul-searching, no deep thoughts — just music, Scripture, and praise. It’s a chance to relax and rejoice in the Lord. That’s my intention with this week’s post. I want to give you a chance to escape the worries of the world and just be happy. God created our sense of humor and wants us to be filled with gladness. I think a good laugh has the power to cure all kinds of ills, so forget your troubles for a little while and enjoy!

“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.”

Psalm 126:2 NIV

To start things off, let’s be inspired by the moving lyrics of this teacher’s COVID-19 song. I’m sure you’ve probably seen this video by now, but it’s worth watching again. I posted this version instead of the original because I think the reactions of the people watching are just as good as the video itself. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re in for a treat!

When I was in elementary school, I had a teacher one year who had a screaming closet. She said there might be times she would need to go in there and just scream. She said we could use it, too. God gives us the same offer. When we’re frustrated, scared, fed up, or overwhelmed, we can cry out to Him. He will hear us and comfort us. He can even help us change our tune from one of lament to one of praise.

“I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.”

Psalm 40:1-3

“After Sunday school, my three-year-old, Kolby, exclaimed, ‘I hate Jesus! Jesus is yucky!’ I was mortified. Several minutes went by as we drove home and terrible thoughts filled my head. Where had we gone wrong? Finally I said, ‘Tell me why you hate Jesus. He died on the cross for us.’ Kolby tilted his head, and a perplexed look spread across his little face. This is it, I thought. He’s going to reveal why he feels this way. ‘Cheez-its, Mom! I hate Cheez-its!'”

“Snack Attack” by Yvonne Ruff, from Reader’s Digest “Your True Stories” (March 2019)

Sometimes we get all worked up over nothing. Before we panic, we have to remember to get all the facts and then turn our concerns over to God. He will take care of us.

And don’t forget to look at the bright side . . .

“Since the coronavirus outbreak, my 47-year-old son has been washing his hands religiously. In fact, he said, ‘I’ve been washing my hands so much, I found the answers to an old eighth-grade math quiz.'”

By Susan Freeman, from Reader’s Digest “Life in These United States” (July/August 2020)

My father is known for his dad jokes, at home and behind the pulpit. Here is one of his originals from when I was a kid: What did Luke Skywalker give Han Solo for Chrismas? A Toyoda. Yes, my brother and I learned how to groan and roll our eyes at a young age. I admit I have inherited this trait — just ask my kids. Here is one of mine: Did you hear about the geologist who misidentified the rock sample? He took it for granite. Yeah, I know . . . I didn’t say I was proud I inherited this, um, talent. Anyway, I asked my dad if he had any favorite jokes he would like to share for this post. He sent me the link to this story, which he found while working on his Father’s Day sermon:

“If you are a father, then I know that you have felt like one father I heard about. His 2 children had talked their mother into letting them get a hamster. She agreed to let them have it as long as they took care of it. They got the hamster and named him Danny. But as all parents know, it is not long before the parents are taking care of the pets . . .

“The mother found a new home for the hamster . . . When the children came home, she told them she had found a new home for Danny. The children took the news better than she thought they would. She had expected them to start crying and begging to let them keep the hamster. Instead they just sat there and said very little.

“One child said: ‘But mom, we will miss him.’. . . ‘Yes, we will, but he is too much work for one person, and since I am that person, I say he has to go.’ The other child said, ‘Well, maybe if he didn’t eat so much and wouldn’t be so messy we could keep him.’ …The mom was firm and said: ‘It’s time to take Danny to his new home. Go and get his cage.’ When she said that, the children started crying hysterically: ‘Danny? We thought you said Daddy!'”

From “Are You a Father Yet?” by Ken D. Trivette on sermonsearch.com

I’m pretty sure the kids in this story don’t love their father less than they love their hamster. But how often have we treated our heavenly Father the same way? How often have we acted as if He’s less important than everything else in our lives? When we remember to put God first, everything else falls into place.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:33 NIV

When we’re tired, when we’re busy, when we have a million other things going on, we can still find time to thank Him. He appreciates the thought even when the words don’t come out quite right:

“After pulling three double shifts in a row, my brother Billy, a hotel clerk, was worn out. On one of his few breaks, he went to the hotel restaurant to grab a bite. When his food came, Billy, his mind in a fog, bowed his head for the blessing and whispered these words to God: ‘Good evening, Holiday Inn, how can I help you?'”

By Bob Cook, from Reader’s Digest “All in a Day’s Work” (April 2020)

I can relate. Once when I was up to my elbows in college algebra exams and was exhausted from grading them, my husband brought me the shopping list to look over before he went to the grocery store. I took it and, red pen in hand, started grading it . . . That’s when I realized I should probably take a break! When we’re exhausted and run down, Jesus invites us to come to Him. He promises rest for our souls.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28 NIV

This all sounds good. This all makes sense. Worry less, and pray more. Let go and let God. Be strong. Rejoice in the Lord. But sometimes it’s just hard. Sometimes it seems like no matter what we do, we just can’t win. Once, my mom called the vet’s office to find out what we should do about our pet’s problem with “flicks and teas.” She tried to correct herself, “I mean teas and flicks . . . no, flicks and teas!” No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t say what she meant. Finally, the receptionist asked, “Ticks and fleas?” “Yes,” my mom gratefully replied. I think we’ve all had days like this. Worry less, and pray more. Got it. I’ll pray less and worry more. I mean I’ll worry more and pray less. We know it should be the other way around, but we just can’t seem to get it straight. This is when we need to remember that God is right there, just like the sympathetic receptionist, waiting to help us.

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.”

Isaiah 41:10 NLT

When we’re in the midst of a terrible day, Max Lucado challenges us to resolve to give it a chance. We can choose to stress less and trust more. We can decide to stop complaining and practice gratitude. When we do this, we see that the day turns out surprisingly okay. When we do this again and again, we end up building a pretty good life . . . one good day at a time. Here is what Rev. Lucado tells us to keep in mind: “You no longer have yesterday. . . . You do not yet have tomorrow. You have only today. This is the day the Lord has made. Live in it.”

“A cheerful disposition is good for your health;
gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.”

Proverbs 17:22 MSG

“Our fourth grader celebrated his birthday on crutches, so he couldn’t carry the cupcakes into school without help. I asked our sixth grader, Noah, to help his brother carry them in.

“‘I could,’ he said, ‘but I’d prefer not to.’ Spotting a teaching moment, my husband asked Noah, ‘What would Jesus do?’

“Noah answered, ‘Jesus would heal him so he could could carry his own cupcakes.'”

By Rachel Nichols, from Reader’s Digest “Life in These United States” (June 2020)

One more thing that can brighten our day is to do something to help someone else. It’s hard to feel bad when you’re helping others. Jesus says in John 15:12, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you” (NIV). When we love others, we are God’s light in the world. This light not only brightens the lives of those we touch, but it brightens ours as well.

“Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.”

Matthew 5:16 TLB

Max Lucado tells us that when we are struggling with remorse over the past or anxiety over the future, we aren’t giving the day a chance. What should we do? Listen to Jesus. He is the Ancient of Days. Based on the following Scipture passages, Rev. Lucado gives a formula we can follow to make each day a good day: “Saturate your day in his grace . . . (Luke 23:43) . . . Entrust your day to his oversight . . . (Luke 11:3) . . . Accept his direction . . . (Luke 9:23) . . . Grace. Oversight. Direction. G-O-D.” Fill each day with God. Feeling guilty? Remember His grace. Feeling afraid? Trust in His oversight. Feeling confused? Follow His direction. Then, no matter what, we can rejoice and be glad!

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

Matthew 6:25-27 NIV

This week’s Scripture passages encourage us to be filled with joy. There is a printer-friendly pdf version below the image. I have also posted a video of our “theme song” below. May we all remember to keep in mind what the lyrics tell us: “In every life we have some trouble. When you worry you make it double. Don’t worry, be happy.” Scripture tells us the same thing!

“Don’t Worry, Be Happy” is one of my mom’s favorite songs and was the inspiration for this week’s post. This song has the power to brighten your day no matter what else is going on in your life. I found the following version on YouTube and fell in love with it. My ten-year-old daughter and I watched it several times just because it made us feel good. I hope you enjoy it!

“Praise the Lord.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.”

Psalm 106:1 NIV

References:

• Cook, Bob. All in a Day’s Work. Reader’s Digest, April 2020, pp. 88-89.
• “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” YouTube, uploaded by Playing for Change, 3 November 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWXUWepSak4.
• Freeman, Susan. Life in These United States. Reader’s Digest, July/August 2020, p. 15.
• Lucado, Max. Every Day Deserves a Chance: Wake Up to the Gift of 24 Hours. Thomas Nelson, 2007.
• Nichols, Rachel. Life in These United States. Reader’s Digest, June 2020, p. 38.
• Ruff, Yvonne. “Snack Attack.” Your True Stories. Reader’s Digest, March 2019, p. 42.
• “This teacher’s COVID-19 song made our hosts cry with laughter | Your Morning.” YouTube, uploaded by Your Morning, 21 April 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f7OwFqTnco&feature=youtu.be.
• Trivette, Ken D. “Are You a Father Yet?” SermonSearch, www.sermonsearch.com/sermon-outlines/15715/r-u–a-father-yet/. Accessed 17 June 2020.

Images:

• Smiley Face featured image by Magic Creative from Pixabay
• Little Girl image by Prashant Sharma from Pixabay
• Don’t Panic image by Jasmin Sessler from Pixabay
• Manhole Cover Funny Face image by June Hanabi from Pixabay
• Hamster image by Elisabeth Leunert from Pixabay
• Couple Laughing image by Pexels from Pixabay
• Boy Laughing image by Pexels from Pixabay
• Heart Hands image by Comfreak from Pixabay