Being happy isn’t about what you have or don’t have. It isn’t even about where you are or what you’re doing. Happiness is what you think about. It’s where your dreams are birthed and your soul feels free. But, to be unapologetically happy, you need to learn to leave the crowd behind and become daring enough to risk your reputation and follow God on an adventure.   

Jesus was very good at leaving the crowd behind. He never seemed to care about what everyone thought about Him.

 If He was to hear what God wanted Him to do next, He needed to find a quiet place and get away from everything. Jesus was probably happier when He’d spent sometime with His Father.  

Learning to leave the crowd behind and become unapologetic in your happiness can be tricky, especially when you’re a recovering people-pleaser.

 I totally get it. You step out in faith. Fear kicks in. You apologise to people because you’re good at something. And then you shrink back. The cycle never ends. 

Why do we find ourselves apologising for something God has gifted us with? Why does the fear of feeling like a “tall poppy” amongst the crowd make us want to say sorry just so other people feel comfortable around us? 

I think I’m beginning to understand why I do it. It’s taken a while (I’m a slow learner) but I’ve realised that I’ve been walking around the mountain of shrinking back for far too long. And I’m quite confident, if you’ve read this far down, you have too. 

We’re the rule keepers. We don’t let people know what we need or even want to become unapologetically happy in our lives because we don’t want to seem high maintenance.  

We are the ones who so desperately want to colour outside the lines, but fear reminds us, that would be breaking some rules. “Tut, tut, tut,” you hear fear whisper, “best not to rock the boat.”

So, you reason with fear and tell it that yes, it’s obviously all been a big mistake to have big, bold God dreams. The thought of being unapologetically happy and leaving the crowd behind was all just wishful thinking. 

You apologise, once again and let that dream die a slow, agonising death. 

Rule keepers, listen up. God never wanted you to be caged up like a circus animal. He much prefers “wild” over “zoo”

Are you going to just sit there and let the enemy do that to you, child of God? Do you think that’s how God wants you to live? Who do you think put those desires in your heart in the first place? God has commissioned you to change the world, dear friend. We need to stop letting fear drive all our decisions. 

So, live your life with bold strokes and brilliant colours. Be unapologetically happy by using those gifts and talents that God has anointed you with, to fulfil your purpose. 

God cannot use you when you shrink back, so stop apologising for being who God made you to be.

Leave the crowd behind and live unapologetically happy!

Wendy xo