(Okay, non-Christians are welcome to answer, but only if you accept that I consider neither the Great Commandment nor the injunction to "Follow me" are open to discussion.)

Here's the question: A person hates 80 percent of his job and life. He probably complains a lot, but may not (since he also suffers from moderate social anxiety). Is he a self-absorbed whiner, or is God trying to tell him something? And how do you tell which it is?

[Aside to Kevin: I wasn't sure whether this should go in "General Discussion" or "Back Alley". Feel free to relocate it if you think it's better the other place.]

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You really liked the girl with the guns more than the girl in purple?

I think God is telling someone to get their glasses prescription checked, that's what I think God is saying.

Hah! Eyes are more important than tan lines.

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Sounds like Job. No clue man.

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I don't know about any of that, but I do know that Dosha is not only lucky, but one damn tough dog.

Link 

Hit by a car, in such terrible shape that the cop shoots him, they put him in the doggie morgue... or more specifically the freezer...

And you thought you were havin' a bad day, lol

I saw the dog on "Ripley's" the other day. (This happened in 2003)

Doin' fine, happy camper.

:thumbleft:

Edit: Her.

She's a she and she oughta go to church, imo :icon_smile:

I'm not hijacking, I'm merely pointing out that grading papers (as an example) couldn't possibly suck as much as Dosha's day did.

Since I believe God gives us all the tools to find our own happiness, I don't think he is trying to tell this person anything unless they are living a life on the incorrect side of the word of the lord.

God has given each person a mind and a set of emotional triggers in life.. it is said persons responsibility to understand their triggers and interpret them.

I think said person needs to start taking into account what makes them happy and what they don't like in life. Then start to map out the low hanging fruit of there unhappiness first. Retake inventory again.. and take the next whack at the roots of unhappiness.

Sounds easier than reality with financial constraints and what not.. but start with the "low hanging fruit" first.. then work on the larger aspects of your displeasure's.

I will tell a little story about a ego filled teenager whom based his entire life and future around a game of pigskin. This kid was generally bigger, stronger and hungrier than most kids his age. As he started to hit the football field and he started to learn that he was better than most.. he started to become an ass.

One day.. off the field all that was taken away in a blink of the eye.. the game was no longer a realistic part of his life and future. For the better course of a couple of years he played the "why me" card and thought God was punishing him for his egotistical ways.

The kid started to push away all the other things he found enjoyable in life, became unhappy and started to accept this as his path.

It wasn't until his third year of college that he had enough, some things in life he had to accept, re focused on the things in life that made him happy and started reshaping his life. It was a long process as he let most things in his life slide, including school and work.

I had to focus on the "low hanging fruit" that I liked and didn't like.. and started right there. Soon, other things in life started to fall into place and the quality of life improved incrementally as days passed.

I am there again.. as my body is starting to tell me that it is time to make another round of changes.. first and foremost how to deal with an accelerated aging process on my joints from heavy use, wear and tear, and the toll that was placed on my body years ago in a wreck.

My ability to be mobile in my own skin is being challenged again.. many of my simple pleasures in life are being forced into change.. it is called life my friend.. just like the game I revolved around my whole life you have to adjust to the opposition ahead and make your own happiness.

Either that or let life chew you up and reduce it to a pile of excuses and complaints.

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Sorry if I pushed any button or took the question too deep.

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Not at all. Was just contemplating possible responses....and waiting for others to jump in.

Though I will say part of the problem, for me anyway, is not always knowing what is on the "right side of the word of the Lord".

After all, self-idolatry is a violation of the Great Commandment, too. And it can be pretty easy to step toward "what makes me happy" and end up in that world of idolatry of one's one values. Of making God's will in one's own image.

It's all about the "obedience that comes from faith" (Romans 1:5), but to obey, one has to both listen and hear correctly. Don't you?

Can we make ourselves happy? Or can we only let Him do that?

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First off, I believe that we choose to be happy or not, regardless our circumstances. But, to answer your questions.. Yes, we can make ourselves happy with His help, by doing what we have been called to do. It's kind of a 2 fer 1 package, IMO.

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Paul's advice was pretty simple: "And having food and raiment let us be therewith content" (1 Timothy 6:8).

Now if only "simple" was a synonym for "easy."

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