I've heard a lot of folks say they struggle between being happy vs being in God's will.

The two "choices" are pitted against each like prize fighters in a boxing ring. In one corner is the feeling of bliss, contentment, happiness, and fun. In the other corner is a bland, boring, cruel, and slavish way of living under someone else's opinions, judgments, and dictates. Easy to choose a corner to support, right?

If you've ever found yourself in this emotional vs spiritual battle, then you know how the story plays out in your mind:

"I love the Lord and really want to please Him and be in His will. Yet, I know what I'm feeling, and I want to be happy. I don't know if I'll be happy if I do what the Lord is telling me to do. I think I know what He's saying to do, but it goes against what I feel inside."

This battle, if allowed, can go on endlessly and cause you stress, fret, anxiety, and eventually health problems. To move from this place of indecision to a place of rest, you must understand a few things about happiness and God's will.

Number One: Happiness is a Choice

Take it from me, a person who likes it best when things are orderly, systematic, and flowing smoothly; there is nothing like ease to make you feel good and happy. When things are going your way, it's wonderful and it's simple to be on the top of the world. When things aren't going your way, however, it's a whole lot tougher. If your happiness is based on your external situations, you're going to find your happiness ebbing and flowing depending on what's going on in your life.

The captive Apostle Paul, speaking to King Agrippa in Acts 26:2 said the following: "I think myself happy..." Bear in mind that these words are coming from a man who is bound and watched by guards, has been beat, shipwrecked, and criticized by many. Though he's had a tough time in his ministry of the Gospel, and is having to defend his faith before the king, he declares that he thinks himself happy.

You, two, must think yourself happy if you're going to be happy. The world will always change and offer you good and bad-looking forecasts. No one or no thing will make and/or keep you happy for long. If you're going to be happy, it's because you choose to be happy.

Proverbs 23:7 declares that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. It has little to do with his outside circumstances. In Philippians 4:8, we're told to fill our minds and meditate "on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse."

Your happiness is your choice, and is completely separate from God's will for you.

Number Two: God's Will is Good!

There is a huge misconception that if a person does the will of God, they will be resigned to some hard, arduous, and non-tasteful lifestyle or shipped off to Africa as a missionary. For some reason, doing the will of God is equated with doing the most horrendous thing one can imagine. God's will is hardly ever seen as being something exciting, fun, and beneficial. This is in direct contrast with what the bible actually teaches. Let's look at two scriptures, with the first being Romans 12:2:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)

This scripture clearly defines the will of God as good, pleasing, and perfect. This defies our thoughts a lot of times. Because we typically look at God being a taskmaster instead of a Father, we miss out on His perfect love for us and His unending desire to do us good. It is only when we renew our mind to the fact that God's will is good for and to us, will ultimately be pleasing to us, and perfect in His view and for our life - regardless of what we think about it - will we start to see the goodness of His will.

Ephesians 2:10 supports the truth of God's will being good:

For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. (AMP)

This scripture indicates that God has planned beforehand good works for us to do. We'll accomplish these good works as we take the paths He has prepared ahead of time. Notice that taking His paths does not lead to a life of woe and heartache. Instead it leads to the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live.

Of course, this does not mean that you're never going to have any trouble, hard times, or pressure in your life. It does mean, however, that you'll be walking in the Lord's paths and will walk into His goodness. Understand that God's goodness supersedes the troubles you'll face in life.

Liken it to a soldier who is on task from his superiors, and finds himself in area where he is under attack by the enemy. Because he is where is supposed to be, his fellow soldiers are able to find him and rescue him from trouble. Compare this with the soldier who is off task and comes under the same attack. No one knows where he is, so he's likely to perish.

When you're in God's paths and in His will, He will protect you and deliver you from all trouble. As the saying goes, the will of God will not guide you where the grace of God cannot keep you. God's will is good, and as you renew your mind to His purpose - not yours - you'll see that revealed clearly.

Be sure to read part two of this article to discover the other two things you must know about God's will so that you can rest and not struggle between happiness and His will.