The Radical Catholic

Worthy of Happiness

I am worthy of happiness. Not the kind of happiness that comes from getting what I want. But the true fulfillment of knowing that I am loved, always have been and always will be, no matter what I do or don’t do.

I never used to feel this way. I had all kinds of excuses for never having this kind of happiness, from what happened in my childhood to what I did as an adult that had far-reaching consequences.

Of course, the unconditional love I craved could never come from another human being. If I’m honest with myself, I could never love another this way either.

Only God can love me this way. Because he created me and knows me better than I know myself. He knows the gifts he gave me and how I’ve been blind to these gifts, causing me to be discouraged, disappointed and despondent.

Somewhere along the way, my heart closed up to God. I stopped believing or caring that he created me and the entire cosmos. I became self-absorbed, concerned only about getting what I needed and wanted to be happy in this life, in every conceivable way, except through him.

This has been the same story throughout human history until God entered human history through Jesus. Jesus became a game-changer when I accepted that he is the Son of God, overcoming the biggest fear of every human being, death, and rising from it.

Jesus is the Creator who made himself small to be with his creations, speaking to them on their level so his truth could be tangible enough to change their minds and hearts from the lies of unworthiness by human standards to the reality of worthiness in God’s eyes.

God, my Creator, is not far away. He is right here. God does not demand my perfection. He only wants my love and gratitude. God is not a harsh taskmaster. He’s a loving father who wants me to listen to him through his son so that I can have peace in my heart and mind now while on planet Earth and, by extension, have that same peace in my soul forever and ever after I pass from this life.

I am worthy of this kind of happiness. I am worthy of this kind of heavenly father. Not because I’m perfect or holy but because I’m so imperfect and unholy.

Jesus came to sit with the sinners, the broken ones who had lost faith in anything bigger than themselves. The ones who were lost in a life of survival on Earth instead of thriving with heaven in their hearts.

I am worthy. And if someone as misdirected as I used to be could come to know the truth of Jesus, I trust that anyone else can, too.

You just have to invite Jesus in. He will take care of the rest.

Blessings.

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