Leslie Vernick - Lord, I Just Want to Be Happy

Praise for other life-changing books
by Leslie Vernick

Leslie Vernickknows that in order to overcome depression, you have to fight. Sheshares clearly and practically the necessary steps for getting into shape spiritually, emotionally, and physically in order to contend with depression.

Cynthia Heald, international speaker;
author of A Womans Journey to the Heart of God

An awesome book for women who have lost their joy and sense of direction in this demanding worldThis book will teach women how to have heaven on earth and improve their quality of life.

Paris M. Finner-Williams, PhD, attorney and psychologist;
coauthor of Marital Secrets: Dating, Lies, Communication, and Sex

Leslie Vernick, with her professional expertise and personal experience, compassionately shows women how to stop pretending everything is okay, face their feelings with faith, correct wrong thinking, and bring peace to their panic.

Andrea Stephens, author of Stuff a Girls Gotta Know

Leslie shows the Bible to be the absolute foundation of sound psychological principles. Her discussion of biological aspects of depression will hopefully helptruly address the spirit, mind, and body spheres of depression.

Karl Benzio, MD, psychiatrist;
Founder/Director of Lighthouse Network

Here is a book I deeply wish didnt need to be written, but also one I am so grateful Leslie Vernick has had the courage to write. You will be moved by her compassion, be appreciative of her candor, and be helped by her professional skills honed in the trenches of real life.

Gene Appel, Lead Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church,
South Barrington, Illinois

If you have been wounded or trapped in a destructive relationship, you are not alone. Your life story isnt over. These are the life-transforming themes of hope that Leslie affirms as she shares her healing journey.

Dr. Catherine Hart Weber,
coauthor of Secrets of Eve and Unveiling Depression in Women;
Fuller Theological Seminary adjunct professor

I could relate to so many of the people mentioned in this book, and it really scared meI knew I had to make changes in my life and marriage

Leslie uses Scripture to validate the points she makes, which is different than any of the other books I have readI would highly recommend this book to anyone who is in or has been in an emotionally destructive relationship. It has changed my outlook on myself and my marriage.

Jess, a reader

This book is a must-readnot only will it educate the reader to take the necessary steps to freedom, but it will also prevent future destructive relationships.

Michelle Borquez
author of God Crazy: An Adventurous Road Trip to Joyful Surrender
Host of I-Life TVs Shine

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Verses marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189 USA. All rights reserved.

Verses marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Verses marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Verses marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All emphasis (italics) in Scripture quotations has been added by the author.

Cover by Dugan Design Group, Bloomington, Minnesota

Cover photo Blend Images Photography / Veer

Back cover photo of author Sally Ullman Photography

LORD, I JUST WANT TO BE HAPPY

Copyright 2009 by Leslie Vernick

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97402

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Vernick, Leslie.

Lord, I just want to be happy / Leslie Vernick.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-7369-1923-4 (pbk.)

1. HappinessReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Title.

BV4647.J68V475 2009

248.4dc22

2009024274

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 / DP-NI / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

I praythat you may be filled to the
measure of all the fullness of God.

P AUL, IN E PHESIANS 3:17,19

Each book I have written is like a pregnancy. It starts as a small seed and miraculously grows larger and larger over months of reflection, thinking, reading, and prayer. For me, the birthing process of writing out my thoughts is a long, hard, and excruciatingly painful labor. There were moments when I was tempted to give up, call it quits, and allow my precious baby to die in the womb. I am especially grateful for my prayer team, AWSA sisters, and special friends who did not let that happen. Although my name is on the cover, please know that without your prayers and your encouragement, I would not have had the strength to push out this book.

I am also thankful for my editor, Paul Gossard at Harvest House Publishers, who not only has worked hard to clean up my baby and make it more beautiful, but went to bat for me when it looked like the birthing process would take a little more time than we thought. Your kindness and understanding comforted and strengthened me and gave me that little extra I needed to persevere.

To my friends and colleagues Georgia Shaffer, Erin Stephens, Glenna Dameron, and Howard Lawler, I deeply appreciate that you have taken your valuable time to read through my early chapters and give me your helpful comments. As a benefit, I hope you have gained some insights and new skills in enhancing your own happiness levels.

Thank you, Donna Baratsmy office managerwho went to the library, searched the Internet, kept all my books and notes straightened out, and took care of everything else while I was preoccupied and unavailable. Michele Boynton, you go over and above the call of duty, and I could not do my work if you did not help me as you do.

Howard, Ryan, and Amanda, you bless me and keep me honest and real.