When I place my eyes on this world and the things in it, my hope plummets, my joy tanks, and my praise doesn’t rise above the floor. My heart often drifts toward what this life has to offer in order to find satisfaction.

Whether it’s financial security, the perfect marriage, the recommended number of kids, physical health, or a trouble-free existence, we can chase after these things so doggedly that disappointment will overwhelm us if not obtained.

But this world we live in is:

• Broken and searching for pleasure where true pleasure can’t be found.

• Filled with imperfect people who will disappoint us.

• Home to fragile bodies reminding us daily that we’re dust––wearing down, growing weary, and vulnerable to sickness and decay. 

As long as we reside on earth, we’ll face hardships that threaten to rob us of joy. Disappointment, comparison, and unfulfilled expectations can smother our ability to practice gratitude. But when we turn to God’s Word….