How To Be Happy and Overcome Any Disappointment

The Happiness Equation:

We become happy when our life situation equals our life expectations. 

Disappointed expectations:

We become unhappy due to disappointed expectations. When we're unhappy, we tend to allow life events, other people, and even our own mistakes to define us. All upset is because of unmet expectations. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." Proverbs 13:12. 

What you focus on is what you will find

Out of fear of disappointment, many lower their expectations, but ironically, this only leads to more and more disappointment. "For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me." Job 3:25. Whatever you focus on is inevitably what you will find. Jesus said, "seek, and you will find" Matthew 7:7. 

Seek godly counsel

It would do us good to seek advice from godly mentors (Proverbs 11:14), but remember that though man may fail us, we may find counsel in the word of God who will never leave us nor forsake us. (Psalm 118:8, Psalm 119:24, Hebrews 13:5). 

Set your expectation on God through prayer

Our expectations are to be on God alone and we are to believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Psalm 62:5, Hebrews 11:6). "Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." Mark 11:24. 

God answers prayers made according to His will

We can have confidence knowing that God answers prayers made according to His will. "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." 1 John 5:14-15

God loves to exceed our expectations

God doesn't always answer the way we expect, in fact, He loves giving us even better than we expect. "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" Ephesians 3:20. 

All things happen for you, not to you

Also remember that all things happen for you, not to you. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.

Trade your expectations for appreciation

Discipline your disappointment by trading your expectation for appreciation. "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. You can't choose your circumstances, but you can choose your reaction. 

Also see Waiting, Patience, and Waiting on God

Sit, Walk, Stand

Sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus

Ephesians 2:4-7 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Walking in the good works we were created for in Christ

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Walking in gentleness, patience, and love

Ephesians 4:1-3 

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Walking as Children of Light

Ephesians 5:8, 13 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.. all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

Walking in Wisdom

Ephesians 5:15-21 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Stand with God's Armor

Ephesians 6:10- Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

God helps you stand

Jude 24-25 (NASB 1995) Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Also see: Walk in the Spirit, Walk in Light

Also see: Put on God's Armor