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Michelle DeRusha

Every Day Faith. Faith Every Day.

August 2, 2016 By Michelle 43 Comments

How The Happiness Dare Opened My Heart to God’s Delight

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“Michelle, God delights in you.”

These words were spoken to me and over me as a blessing twice after I’d revealed my breakthrough (i.e. breakdown) to my traveling companions in Italy. Two beautiful women prayed two beautiful, intimate prayers over me at two different points during the trip, and though their prayers were full of wisdom, insight and God’s truth, I remember only five specific words, words both of them uttered:

Michelle, God delights in you.

Those are the words, the promise, I took home with me. And while I wish I’d held a recorder in my hand so that I would still have every one of the beautiful words those two lovely women spoke to me, I do believe those five I tucked into my mind, soul and heart are enough. Those five words comprised the essence of their prayers, and I grabbed that truth and held it tight.

Two weeks ago, as my family and I winged our way to New England, I pulled Jennifer Dukes Lee’s recently released book, The Happiness Dare, out of my carry-on bag. Though I hadn’t yet cracked the binding, I knew Jennifer’s book would be good. In fact, I knew it would be excellent. Her first book, Love Idol, knocked my socks off, and I know Jennifer and her writing well enough to know The Happiness Dare would do the same.

What I didn’t expect, though, was that The Happiness Dare would speak so clearly into my heart, straight into the place I’d tucked the hope and prayer of those five words I’d received in Italy.

The Happiness Dare

The truth is, I may have known, hypothetically, that “God delights in me,” but I didn’t truly understand or even believe it personally. I didn’t believe it applied to me. I assumed God approved of me (on my good days), and was even possibly pleased with me from time to time, but delighted in me? Delight seems over-the-top. Delight is giddy, wildly joyful, grinning from ear to ear, cartwheels, jumping up and down with glee. Never once in my forty-six years have I ever considered that God delights in me.

Until Italy, that is. Until I experienced an altogether different God than the distant, vaguely curmudgeonly God I’d crafted.

Looking back, it’s so obvious: of course God delights in me. If he didn’t, why would he have gone to the trouble of wooing me in all the ways he knows matter most to me — in the birds and the blooms, in the warm breeze, heavy with the scent of jasmine and lavender, in the hot sun blanketing fields of green and gold. He is so particular, so specific. He knew the magical landscape of Tuscany was the place I would meet him and accept his invitation, long before I ever imagined the possibility of such a trip.

That, my friends, is a God who not only approves of us and is pleased with us, but delights in us.

And that is also a God who desires delight for us in our everyday, ordinary lives. Just as God delights in us, he has also wired us for delight. He has planted the seeds of happiness deep in our souls.

“Do not imagine the Lord as some miserly mall security cop, with his arms crossed over his chest and a whistle around his neck, waiting for you to mess things up down here,” Jennifer writes in The Happiness Dare. “God is the inventor of happiness and the chief spreader of it. When you desire happiness, you are not a pleasure-seeking heretic. Your desire to live happy is not a flaw. It is your soul’s memory of the original paradise, etched and alive in you.

God delights in each and every one of us, and I believe one of his deepest desires is that we delight in him too, in all the ways, big and small, he lavishes his love on us. We have to look for it, Jennifer reminds us, because sometimes this delight, this happiness, shows up small – in the scent of lavender, in the steady drone of bees under a hot Tuscan sun, in the sing-song call of the Oriole, right in your own backyard.

Friends, I invite you take the Happiness Dare with me. I invite you to allow happiness, “the holy fuel of our personhood,” to open your heart to God’s delight in you and your delight in him.

I finished Jennifer’s book the first two days of my vacation, and I was right: it was absolutely as fabulous as I thought it would be! Superbly crafted, wise, and engaging, The Happiness Dare will inspire you to embrace God’s desire for you and begin the journey toward spiritual and emotional transformation.

And here’s a cool thing: Jennifer has also created a Happiness Assessment – a five-minute online quiz that will help you discover your happiness style (I’m a Doer and a Thinker). You can take the Happiness Assessment here. 

And the best news of all: I have a copy of The Happiness Dare to giveaway! Just enter the drawing below for a chance to win [email readers: click here and scroll down to the bottom of the post to enter the drawing].

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Filed Under: happiness Tagged With: Jennifer Dukes Lee, The Happiness Dare

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jen M. says

    August 2, 2016 at 7:57 am

    What makes me happy is reading. Lately I have been intentional about making time to read and it has been huge.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      August 2, 2016 at 10:32 am

      Right there with you, Jen – I think reading might just be one of my happiest habits. 🙂

      Reply
    • Jennifer says

      August 2, 2016 at 10:42 am

      I’m wondering if you might test highest as a Thinker on the Happiness Style Assessment at http://www.TheHappinessDare.com.

      Reply
  2. marilyn richards says

    August 2, 2016 at 8:01 am

    Dear Michele…..as we journey together and follow the path our faith leads us, I always find it endearing how candid you are when talking about God. I have always believed (and still do) that our God is a loving God. He accepts us for who we are and as we continue our journey together, we learn from the smallest of examples, how great God’s love is. As bloggers, Michele, we delight in you. You have been instrumental in bringing your voice and your vision to my computer and I so welcome sharing time with you and learning from you. The journey continues….we have so much yet to learn and experience!

    with love……marilyn

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      August 2, 2016 at 10:33 am

      Thank you for these kind, sweet words, Marilyn – I so appreciate that! And I love your point about how we can learn from the smallest examples about how great God’s love is for us. That’s it, exactly. That is what I am seeing and understanding more and more in my life.

      Reply
    • Jennifer says

      August 2, 2016 at 10:42 am

      Amen, Marilyn!

      Reply
  3. Catherine says

    August 2, 2016 at 8:13 am

    Being done with radiation.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      August 2, 2016 at 10:34 am

      That is indeed something to be happy about, Catherine! I am celebrating with you, and may God bless you and continue to heal you on your journey toward good health.

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        August 2, 2016 at 10:43 am

        Celebrating with you!

        Reply
  4. Krista Gibson says

    August 2, 2016 at 8:29 am

    Writing with fountain pens and cool inks makes me happy. I love the way they move along the paper.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      August 2, 2016 at 10:35 am

      I love a good pen, too! Nothing makes me happier than a pretty, brand-new journal, a clean page, and a smooth pen. Small joys, right?

      Reply
  5. Susan Ruffalo says

    August 2, 2016 at 8:51 am

    I love when God speaks to us!! Your blog post answered my prayer for today!

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      August 2, 2016 at 10:35 am

      Well now that makes ME happy, Susan!

      Reply
  6. Mary Jane Bruce says

    August 2, 2016 at 9:03 am

    Right now what’s making me happy is a hot cup of coffee as I look through my email. Such a good start to the day.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      August 2, 2016 at 10:36 am

      Coffee is my best friend in the mornings, Mary Jane. I’m with you on that!

      Reply
  7. Cindy Swanson says

    August 2, 2016 at 9:42 am

    Coffee, your writing, fresh rainfall!

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      August 2, 2016 at 10:38 am

      Well thank you very much for including my writing in your list of happies, Cindy! And yes on the coffee and the fresh rainfall – everything looks sparkling and washed clean here this morning after a good, long rain last night.

      Reply
  8. Aimee Kollmansberger says

    August 2, 2016 at 10:03 am

    My happiness is slow coming from a pared down summer schedule free of obligation.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      August 2, 2016 at 10:38 am

      I had that kind of summer too, Aimee, and it’s been so incredibly refreshing and liberating. Good for you!

      Reply
    • Jennifer says

      August 2, 2016 at 10:44 am

      So good to create margin!

      Reply
  9. Diane Adams says

    August 2, 2016 at 10:06 am

    My job. It has taken over twelve years, but I am finally happy going to work.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      August 2, 2016 at 10:39 am

      Perseverance pays off, Diane. Congratulations on finding your vocational sweet spot – that’s no small feat.

      Reply
    • Jennifer says

      August 2, 2016 at 10:44 am

      Diane, I wonder if you might be a Doer. Find your happiness style at http://www.thehappinessdare.com! 🙂

      Reply
  10. laura says

    August 2, 2016 at 10:13 am

    Enjoying the last few days of my summer break.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      August 2, 2016 at 10:40 am

      And that response doesn’t even need a reply — amen to the happiness that is summer break, right?

      Reply
  11. Megan Willome says

    August 2, 2016 at 11:19 am

    I’m so happy Jennifer’s new book is finally here! “Love Idol” spoke to me right where I was at the time. I’ve seen a dare-I-say lasting change since then, so I’m looking forward to how God will use this book to change my life. (Even though I’m super tired of change, it doesn’t seem to be, ahem, changing.)

    Reply
  12. Bonnie says

    August 2, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    Thankful God delights in us as we delight in Him!
    Thankful for a chance to read /win the Happiness Dare…

    Reply
  13. Zabby says

    August 2, 2016 at 12:35 pm

    I am happy that my sister and her family are arriving in town and I will be able to share time with them. Family is so important and I don’t get to see them nearly enough.

    Reply
  14. Ruthanne says

    August 2, 2016 at 1:26 pm

    Right now I am making time to intentionally knit and or read daily (for fun). I find that the creativity of knitting, and the relaxed yet mindful reading are both life giving and make me so happy during and afterwards!

    Reply
  15. Deb Miller says

    August 2, 2016 at 1:39 pm

    I took the happiness style assessment. Not only did I agree with the outcome (experiencer & relater being the top two) but the experiencer description was so apt I laughed out loud, prompting Jim to ask me what was going on!

    Thanks for another thought-provoking entry.

    Deb

    Reply
  16. Gina says

    August 2, 2016 at 2:41 pm

    Everything about your post spoke to me and brought me joy. May God bless you.

    — Gina Weeks

    Reply
    • Gina says

      August 2, 2016 at 2:50 pm

      …the thing to being me the most joy right now is soaking in every day as a blessing from the Lord: my three kids are all on the cusp of changes in their lives. It’s a stretching experience in my faith as a mom. But God is with me and He is always faithful.

      Reply
  17. Martha Orlando says

    August 2, 2016 at 4:25 pm

    I already have my copy and can’t wait to read it! Yes, Love Idol was a wonderful book, and I knew Happiness Dare would not disappoint.
    Blessings, Michelle!

    Reply
  18. Donna Brown says

    August 2, 2016 at 5:21 pm

    Reading is making me happy these days. I am reading different genres and authors this year.
    Thanks for your honesty.

    Reply
  19. Kate Motaung says

    August 2, 2016 at 9:14 pm

    Beautiful post, Michelle. Thank you for sharing! And thank you for hosting this giveaway! SUMMER is making me happy right now. 🙂 So blessed to live near Lake Michigan, where beach visits are a daily possibility. Beyond spoiled. Blessings to you!

    Reply
  20. Kathy says

    August 3, 2016 at 12:59 pm

    What makes me happy is spending time with my grandkids who live four hours away. When not with them, I have my husband and kitties to keep me happy. God is good.

    Reply
  21. Katie Andraski says

    August 3, 2016 at 8:42 pm

    Thank you for this wonderful post. It’s as though the whole world is God’s love letter to us…

    Reply
  22. Theresa says

    August 3, 2016 at 11:09 pm

    So many things make me happy. Tonight it was eating blueberries and reading your blog. Just reading about how you leaned how God delights in you gave me shivers. I pray we can remember this delight God has in us. Especially when we need to hear these encouraging words.

    Reply
  23. Alicia Mae says

    August 3, 2016 at 11:35 pm

    Right now what is making me happy is my new bright blue tea kettle. It looks so cheery sitting on my stove!

    Reply
  24. Rebecca says

    August 5, 2016 at 5:03 pm

    I love your transparency Michelle!! I am happy when I watch the hummingbirds chase each other in the back yard.

    Reply
  25. Amanda says

    August 5, 2016 at 6:17 pm

    A husband who understands my need for a stay-at-home mom break, even though his own job requires him to work weeks at a time without time off. Feeling the kicks of baby boy following 2 girls. A little time away with a girlfriend. A break in the August summer heat. The list goes on… Thanks for encouraging us to look for the happy!

    Reply
  26. Melody says

    August 6, 2016 at 6:21 pm

    Hearing contagious laughter makes me happy as well as pink flowers. And chocolate. Definitely chocolate.

    Reply
  27. Janet from FL says

    August 9, 2016 at 9:08 pm

    I did the assessment quiz and I am a Thinker and a Doer! Maybe that’s why I keep reading your blogs. I identfy with your thinking side. Evidently the Doer is more developed in you, and I can see that in your posts. You need to finish things and know what to do next. I tend to be more of a thinker, which is why I love blogging! Thanks for posting the link to the quiz. It was fun doing it.

    Reply

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Living out faith in the everyday is no joke. If you’re anything like me, some days you feel full of confidence and hope, eager to proclaim God’s goodness and love to the world. Other days…not so much.

Let me say straight up: I wrestle with my faith. Most days I feel a little bit like Jacob, wrangling his blessing out of God. And most days I’m okay with that. I believe God made me a questioner and a wrestler for a reason, and I believe one of those reasons is so that I can connect more authentically with others.

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