“The single most important decision any of us will ever have to make is whether or not to believe that the universe is friendly.”  Albert Einstein

When you hear someone speak of “the universe,” what does that evoke in you?

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  (Romans 8:28; NLT)

I’m afraid I can hear some of you now…boy, he’s been reading too many of those books and has started talking about the universe.  Wooo-wooo!!  Well, hopefully I’m not as far gone as you may think.  I believe that references to the universe are often euphemisms used by many to refer to God.  Bear with me as I explain in the context of happiness.

Yes, I’m still writing about happiness and specifically Marci Shimoff’s newest book, Happy for No Reason.  Today, I would like to explore the second of three guiding principles  that Marci observed played a significant role in all of the “Happy 100″ that she interviewed which helped them “become, or remain, Happy for No Reason.”  That second principle is “The universe is out to support you.”  Now, if I were writing that principle, I would prefer to say, “God is out to support you,” but it’s her book.

Marci, reports that the Happy 100 would all shout “Yes!” if presented with the question, “Is this a friendly universe?”  She writes, “Rather than thinking the universe is out to get them, they believe the universe is out to support them.”  This attitude prevails not just when things are going their way, but all the time.  “When something bad occurs, they don’t moan and groan, ‘Why me? It’s not fair.’  They see all the events in their lives through the lens of ‘Ultimately, this is happening for my good.  There are no mistakes.  Let me look for the blessing in this.’” 

(I love it when God shows me a Bible verse virtually quoted in a secular book.  Remember the discovery of Philippians 4:8 in Monday’s DG?  Today, it seems that Romans 8:28 is jumping off the page.)

Oh that more of us who so quickly and easily quote Romans 8:28 would act like we truly believe it when we’re on the receiving end of some of life’s blows.  (Please understand that I’m absolutely including myself in that group.  There’s no question that my “set-point” needs to be adjusted.)  How exciting is the thought that “There are no mistakes.  Let me look for the blessing in this.”  Seems to me that this would be a ticket off of life’s roller-coaster of emotions  we so often find ourselves riding.

Prayer Power
Lord, we thank You for the promise of Romans 8:28.  We’ve all seen it worked out countless times.  Now, we specifically ask that You give us even greater grace to live that verse from our hearts rather than just from our heads.

Link of the Day
Happy for No Reason

Blessings on you as you purpose to search for the blessings in the “not so good” as easily as you find them in the good.