If you are miserable, it’s probably because you have not been miserable.

“Huh?” Let me restate. If you are feeling miserable right now, it’s probably because you have not felt truly miserable by your sins and their implications. Another way of saying this is, if you truly knew what you deserved, which is death and hell, then whatever you have now is so much better than that and therefore you have no reason to feel miserable.

To quote an old Puritan, “He who has deserved hanging, may be glad if he escape with a whipping.” Thomas Brooks.

There is one other way to say this: If you are unhappy now, it’s probably because you have not gone through hardships.

So, think about the implications. Our hardships actually lead to our happiness. Our misery (regarding our sins) actually leads to our contentment. Is that always true? No. Some people grow bitter in hardships and misery, but without them, it’s nearly impossible to become happy and content.

So, are you facing hardships? You are one step away from happiness.
Are you miserable over your sins and inadequacies? You are next door to contentment!

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matt 5:4

Misery itself is NOT the blessing.
Hardships themselves are NOT the blessing.
Blessing is what they lead us to, which is Christ.

Look to Christ who went through the misery and hardships for our sake. But He ended up in resurrection.

No other view of the world turns misery into a blessing…. How blessed are we to be believers?

PH