Dr. Rick Mandl - July 28, 2020
Misery Loves Company
Misery Loves Company
Tuesday July 28, 2020
Hey church family, are you familiar with the saying “Misery loves company?” Well the good news is if you’re miserable you’ve got a lot of company. If you’re feeling stressed or depressed, just know that you’re not alone. A recent General Social Survey shows that just 14 percent of American adults say they’re very happy – just 14 percent. That’s down from 31 percent who said the same thing two years ago. That year, 23 percent said they had often or sometimes felt isolated in recent weeks. Now, 50 percent say that. In total, fewer Americans are likely to call themselves “happy” than at any point since the survey began in 1972. According to a new report by the American Psychological Association, more than 70 percent of Americans say “this is the lowest point in US history they can remember.” And the percentage of Americans who are “extremely proud” of their country has fallen to 21 percent, the lowest since Gallup began measuring this sentiment in 2001.
In response to the discouragement of these days, what can you do? One thing you can do is to... remind yourself of God’s goodness and that, that has not changed. In Psalm 100 we’re told that, "The Lord is ALWAYS GOOD. He is ALWAYS LOVING and KIND, and His faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation.”
When you and I forget the goodness of God, let me tell you three things that are likely to happen.
- I start taking credit for things God did for me. I Corinthians 4 asks the question, “What do you have that God has not given you? And if all you have is from God, why act as though you are great, and as though you have accomplished something on your own?” Whenever I begin to take credit for things God did in me, through me, to me or for me…I am headed for trouble.
A second thing that happens when I forget the goodness of God is that...
- I stop asking God for help. Because I figure that God doesn’t really care about my problems.
A third thing that happens is that...
- I become pessimistic about the future.
Here’s how it works... When you forget how good God really is... you become pessimistic about the future... because hope is based on faith in the goodness of God. If God isn’t good all the time–there is no hope…right? So what’s the cure? The cure is to remind myself of the goodness of God. And I think the best verse in the Bible to remind yourself of that is Psalm 23:6 which says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” Notice ALL the days of your life including these very strange days in which we’re living. Including this day.
God’s goodness and mercy is going to follow me today, so keep your eyes open for it, and then you will want to...Go to him with your requests and you won’t be pessimistic about the future. So, today, look for ways that God is being good to you and merciful to you. You do that and I guarantee you, you will have a better day. God bless.
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