Stepping Stones: Will I Ever Be Happy Again?

Transformational Tip
I know so many people who have lost all happiness in their lives...they wonder if they will ever be happy again. Their unhappiness is usually an outcome of being in a very bad situation. My prayer for them; God, please bring some good out of this bad situation.
Why is this prayer always so difficult to pray when you are in the midst of a horrible situation? An illness for your self or a loved one, death, divorce, in the grasp of an addiction, financial trouble...the list goes on and on. So many reasons to be unhappy.
We typically don't ask God to make good from the bad because we are in the midst of suffering; it's almost impossible to consider all the wonderful outcomes that God could have in store for us. So for those of you who have lost all hope for happiness and are in the midst of a storm, pray this simple prayer; Dear Father, please bring good out of this bad situation.
These present painful circumstances are there to sharpen, grow, and show us valuable skills and information about us, God, and life. This isn't the end of the movie....more scenes are yet to come. Do what you need to do, even though it is painful at times, so when God does His thing, you are ready to act and take advantage of it. Often times we procrastinate away the "studying or training time" in a task, so we don't learn the important skills, process, or information to be successful when the opportunity to shine on the test, performance, event. Now follow Him, do the training now so you can manage the experience and have peace, comfort, and success in the adversity/ opportunity at hand....so you can have a front row seat to appreciate what He is doing today and will do tomorrow in your life. (See Devotional April 5, 09.)

Prayer
Dear Father God,
I know that bad does not come from You, but that You have the power to make good come from a bad situation. I pray Father that you give me the strength to endure this storm and to build my faith that You will bring good from this bad. Most days I feel like I will never be happy again. I pray that You replace this sadness and hopelessness with Your Joy and hope. I confess that I have made choices that have created this bad; forgive me Lord. But there are also bad circumstances that are out of my control and that I do not understand. I accept Lord that my ability to understand is so limited, but I trust in You that You will bring good from this bad. Help me Lord reflect Your light and hope to those I come in contact who are in the midst of what appears to be an impossible situation.

The Truth
then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!"
I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.
He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions."
Daniel 6:16, 26-27
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4