Maybe you think you’ll be happy when you have more money, lose some weight, get a better job, travel to a different country, watch the kids graduate from college, etc.

The problem is you’re most likely wrong.

Experience and research tells us that this simply isn’t the case. And the people who never learn this end up being pretty miserable.

The better answer is being thankful and grateful for everything you do have, as imperfect as it may be in the current circumstances. Thankfulness and gratitude produce contentment. And that, as Paul showed, is the real key to being happy (Philippians 4:10-13).

It’s a true joy to know that contentment is great gain in life (1 Timothy 6:6-8). And it can be a beautiful blessing to possess this knowledge. God promises to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), and that’s far better than more money, lower weight, and all the other trappings that we associate with happiness.