I Just Want To Be Happy: When and Then

Philippians 1:12–30

"When and Then" thinking: When I get _________, THEN I will be happy. Problem with that is, whenever we fill in the blank, we realize that we still aren't happy or it only makes us happy temporarily, and so we try to put another word in the blank.

What are some of the things you've placed in the "When" blank? What was it like in the short and long term when that thing happened?

Our unhappiness stems from 4 main areas in our lives:
• Pain in our life
• People in our life
• Pressures in our life
• Problems in our life

Read vs 12–14. How can you possibly be happy during pain in your life?

(Look at life through a godly perspective. Ask God to help you see problems through HIS perspective.)

Can anyone share an example of how their perspective of the pain they've dealt with changed after they realized God's perspective and purpose?

Read vs 15–18b. How should you behave when other people criticize, compete with, or tear you down?

What perspective do you need to have in order to not allow other people to control your attitude and responses?

(Don't let PEOPLE–good or bad–determine your joy or happiness.)

Read vs 18b–20. How do you deal with pressure?

What's your first instinct when you are pressured or overwhelmed? What's your last?

How does God want us to deal with pressure?

(Trust God to work things out. Have faith. Work like it depends on your, pray like it depends on God.)

Read vs 21–25. Problems are real. We have them all the time. How can you not let your problems rob your happiness?

(Never let problems trump your purpose. Purpose will make you go farther, push further, sacrifice more, dig deeper, and be happier EVEN when you face problems and barriers in life.)

Read v 27. "The one thing I would stress is this: your public behavior must match up to the gospel of the King."

Share how God can use a problem you find yourself in to witness to others or encouraging other believers.

What's the #1 thing you need to change about how you deal with pain, pressures, people or problems in your life? How will you change it? How does God get the glory?