Contentment: What we all long for and few of us possess
It's easy to be contented when we're feeling good about our lives. When our work is going smoothly and our loved ones are safe and well and we're keeping up with expenses.
But sometimes it's not that way.
Take health, for instance. Most of us know what it's like to wait for the results of medical tests.
We want to know--and we don't want to know. Our minds keep this sound track playing, every waking moment: "Oh please, dear God, let it be okay."
Sleep comes and goes and our gut grumbles at us.
At last we get the verdict. If the news is good our prayer changes to, "Thank you, Lord! Oh, thank you, thank you."
When it's not, all we can wail is, "Oh no. Lord, what can we do?"
A friend received test results she dreaded to hear
We talked later and she kept asking in a defeated voice, "How will I get through this? How do I live with this constant fear?"
I hugged her and said what I suppose anyone feeling helpless would say, "Forget the long haul. You are strong. You can make it through anything one day, one hour, maybe even one moment at a time. Treatments have come a long way." Etc.
But it was not enough. Of course, it was not enough.
She needed more. I should have said what I truly believe: You can make it through anything.
I believe that because I've learned the truth of this verse through living my life:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 NKJV
Who hasn't struggled with doubt at times?
We know what it's like when our minds churn with "What ifs" and "If onlys."
We also know that's useless, because we only get this day, this moment to live in. One at a time.
Our call as Christians is to make the most of who we are and what we have. Now. And thank God for his blessings, because only he knows tomorrow. As for what may be--or what we lack--we're to leave that in his care.
That's a lifelong challenge, especially when we're drowning in words and opinions coming at us from all sides.
Especially in this election year.
The Apostle Paul talked about contentment
.I used to read these well-loved verses and sigh.
For I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13 NIV
That first sentence always stopped me. I imagined Paul as one who possessed a special gift and could endure whatever came without struggling. I wanted his gift!
One day, in the middle of that well-worn thought, I realized I had missed the point. Paul said, "I have learned . . . "
Oh.
He learned
Just as you and I do, as our children do. Little by little, one trial after another. (You can read Paul's list in II Corinthians 11:23-29.)
Paul mastered being "content in any circumstance" the only way any human can.
I can be content one moment after the other if I set a limit on my thoughts.
If I refuse to allow myself to dwell on what's missing in my life, in other people or in myself.
Each time Paul chose whether to fix his eyes on his situation and cower in fear, or turn toward God and trust. Through it all he believed God would bring good , even out of pain.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good . . . Romans 8:28a ESV
Life happens and, well, nobody's life is perfect
The best we can do is look to Paul's example of how to handle the stresses and pains of life. Then whether we're dealing with a huge boulder in our path or a grain of sand in our shoe, we can be at peace.
Even if it's two steps forward, one step back, it's still progress.
For many of us making this lesson our own will be a lifelong learning process.
In the meantime, let's hug to our hearts the sure knowledge that we don't need to see the sense of what comes into our lives.
Our loving Heavenly Father cares and can turn our chaos into something beautiful. In His time.
What more can we ask?
Learning, too,
Lenore
