Are You Happy?

OK, so I have been asked this question on a number of occasions by other Pastors. For some reason I thought about it yesterday and decided to blog about it. This question always bothered me, because in essence and in many cases what they are asking is, "Are you totally happy with your current circumstance, or would you rather come work for me?" As if they are the perfect Pastor with the perfect situation! Look, happiness has very little to do with the immediate calling of God. We cannot be moved by current uncertainties or discomforts. We operate in the calling of God through difficulties in order that happiness and fulfillment might come to us and God in due time.
What would the Lord have said if He were asked that question on the way to the Cross? It wasn't about His immediate happiness. Instead, it was all about His ultimate reason for being on the Earth...the redemption of mankind. Hebrews 12:2 states, "2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Jesus endured the current discomforts (to put it lightly) for the joy that was set before Him. He knew what he was doing was not in vain, eventually it would pay big dividends for the Father's Kingdom.
As long as we are doing exactly what God has instructed us to do, let us stick unswervingly to that path. We cannot give in to every sugar coated opportunity with the hopes that it will provide us with an easier way out or a quicker path to success. Usually, the Lord's way is tough at the moment but effective, productive, and fulfilling in the end.