In life we always “want.” I am one of the most guilty when it comes to being worried about the future and thinking I know what I need. I wish and pray for something in hopes of getting exactly what I desire and I want it to come exactly how I intended for it to happen. As a whole, we are a country of “I want.” We want that boy, that job, that house, that school; we want THAT life. We see what we want and we try anything to get it, but why do we get so upset when we don’t see the results we want?

Almost everyone at some point in their life has been jealous of something or someone. We’ve all been angry when we didn’t get our way, and we’ve probably asked God “why?” more times than we’d like to admit. The truth for me is in the Bible, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11. There is no grey area when God says he will provide. The problem we face is not fully understanding that what we have, we got for a reason. What we choose to do with the opportunities provided to us is up to us.

We can be negative; we can be mad at the world or God or whatever you choose to believe in, or we can focus on the “this.” This life, although sometimes hard, stressful, and unforgiving, is great because we are alive and given another opportunity to start fresh every day if we want it. This friend I have, this house we live in, this family I live with, this chance, THIS is what we should be appreciative of. Once we put emphasis on being grateful for what we do have, we won’t be worried about the “that” because the “this” will be enough. The “this” will make us happier than getting exactly what we think we need. “Happiness isn’t about getting what you want all the time. It’s about loving what you have and being grateful for it… be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” When we don’t get what we want, we must be learn to be content right where we are. We must learn to love the “this” and not focus on the “that.”