In my reading, I’ve been on a Stoic kick. Right now, I am sitting at Epictetus’ feet and getting worked over in the best of ways. It hurts so good.

In my reading today, as Epictetus is lovingly railing against his students for not practicing the things they say they believe, he calls them to the floor with an fatherly exhortation that I will not soon forget.

Before I share the quote, I’ve a qualifier. Since Epictetus was a kind of pantheist, I’ve made a few slight modifications (noted by parenthesis) that aren’t in the original because I want to better appropriate this wisdom for myself as a Christian and my brothers and sisters who may read this.

Epictetus:

“Listen, as the saying goes, ‘it’s crisis time’: make a last desperate effort to gain freedom and tranquillity – to be (Christian). Lift up your head, like a person finally released from slavery. Dare to face God and say,

‘From now on, use me as you like. I am of one mind with you. Whatever you decide, I will not shrink from it. You may put me where you like, in any role regardless: officer or citizen, rich man or pauper, here or overseas. They are all just so many opportunities to (show your goodness) to man by showing just how little circumstances amount to.’

Therefore, set our own house in order. Cast out of your mind – not (death) or (suffering) – but sorrow, fear, lust, envy, spite, greed, petulance, and over-indulgence. Getting rid of these requires looking to God for help, trusting him alone, and submitting to his direction. If you’re not willing to do this… you will serve someone physically more powerful than you and continue to look outside yourself for happiness, fated never to find it. And that is because you look for it in the wrong place, forgetting to look where it really lies.” (Discourses, 2:16:41, 45)

To say it another way, King Solomon wrote:

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Happiness will never be found if we hitch ourselves to external things like people’s praise or blame, pleasurable circumstances, money, or whatever else. Happiness can only be found when we look to Christ and genuinely pray from our heart, “From now on, use me as you like. I am of one mind with you. Whatever you decide, I will not shrink from it.”

His way alone gives the permanent, stable, and true happiness we yearn for. Remember Jesus’ words, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).