If it makes you happy, then why the hell are you so sad

A line from Sheryl Crow's song If it makes you happy has been running through my head lately..

If it makes you happy
then why the hell are you so sad...

As Christians, we know the answer to the mystery of life, we have all the pieces of the puzzle, and yet, even though we walk through life knowing the awesome, fulfilling Person that is God, every now and then we are still miserable for no reason.

Do you know what I mean? You might be relaxing with friends on the grass, on the most beautiful summer's day, joking about, enjoying each others' company, and all of a sudden, a feeling of indescribable sadness will creep into your joy. And you don't know why.

At times like these, I like to think that they're God's way of reminding us that we don't belong here - that even in what we think are our happiest times, God's graciously reminding us that what we are promised in heaven is INFINITELY better than anything we'll ever experience here on earth!! And I like to think that in our happiest moments we ache, because God's created us in His image, and somehow we know that our happiness will never be complete here on earth.. 'Cause this fallen world of an earth is not the way things are meant to be!

It reminds me of how the writer of Hebrews, as well as Peter, both refer to us as "aliens and strangers [in the world]" (Hebrews 11:13, 1 Peter 11:13). Let us then remember, just like everyone's favourite ExtraTerrestial, E.T., to "phone home". Okay, okay, that analogy didn't really work, but remember how E.T.'s main line is "E.T., phone home"... Just like E. T., let's remember where our real home is - Heaven, baby!!

So next time you get hit by a sudden wave of misery, remind yourself that you are not of this world, but that you belong to a home that is infinitely greater than the place we currently are!