On the final page of C.S. Lewis’ EPIC story of Narnia, the Christ-figure Aslan has this to say to his young friend, Lucy – “You do not yet look so happy as I mean you to be.” Aslan
Aslan’s words cut deep.
In the story, Aslan had done everything he needed to do – death, resurrection, and the renewal of all things in order to secure unending joy for Lucy but unfortunately, Lucy was unable to comprehend all that she had been given.
Aslan’s words cut deep because I am Lucy. In Christ, I’ve been given everything – joy, peace, rest, mercy, compassion, love, family, and a home in heaven, but yet I still do not look as happy as Christ means me to be.
Can life be trying at times? Of course! Exhausting, that’s a pretty good adjective to describe the realities of a typical day. Dark, broken, and chaotic – also words that articulate well the world we live in. There’s no questioning that life is hard, some seasons harder than others, but hard nonetheless.
Despite the setbacks, disappointments, frustrations, and storms we traverse, why does happiness need to take a back seat? In Christ, it should not. In many ways, those who know Christ should be compelling people to Jesus by our unshakeable happiness. When people see us, they should see a smile (a tangible expression of something different about us) that might cause them to wonder ‘where is that coming from?’
I don’t know about you, but I need to smile more. My ‘resting face’ is just way too intense and frowny. I don’t have anyone coming up to me and asking me about the origins of my smile – but if I’d stop being such a Lucy, maybe I would.
The beauty of prayer is that I have the opportunity to be slow and still enough to reflect. I love how the Psalmist exhorts us –
“May I never forget the good things He does for me.” Psalm 103:2
And then the Psalmist lists out a few of those good things – forgiveness, healing, redemption, renewal, and the justice of God. And after reflecting on the good things of God, any guesses as to the posture of the Psalmist at the end?
“Let all that I am praise the Lord.” Psalm 103:22
To state the obvious, smiling and praising go hand in hand. Meaning, it’s just not possible to maintain a frowny face when ALL of who you are is set on praising ALL of who He is.
Today in prayer, simply ask God to give you a smile that might cause others to ask ‘what’s going on?’' And when they ask, simply share with them all the good things that God has done and is doing for you in Christ.
