Content—Always? Is it possible?
From where I’m sitting and I see my poor fiddle fig. Doesn’t seem that I’m all fit to be a #plantlady.
Anyways, just got home from a Women’s Brunch (shoutout to Colonial Baptist what what 🙌🏽) at church and put the kiddos down for a nap. The lesson take away from the event? Contentment is God’s plan for you.
BUT Not just any contentment from any source or event, or measure of success. It’s from Him and in Him. Wherever He has you, whatever the circumstances are, or expectations unmet, or exceeded, He sees your heart if you are content in Him, in His eternal perspective and divine promises. In the world of seeing and believing, can we not see and still trust Him? Still be content in Him?
Can we hold steadfastly to faith in His control when we feel the rocks crash on us while we are in the storm-tossed sea of life?
It was convicting to me. Causing me to throw up my hands (figuratively, it was in the middle of her talk and to do it literally may be disruptive and rude) and say, “I’m sorry, Lord.” Because I know I am not always content. I know I can be sharp with my tongue in bitterness, or quick to grumble or complain when life gets hard. And that is not having faith. That is not letting go of the tight fists of control. And that is not having peace that surpasses understanding.
So, I’m thankful for Celinda, the woman who shared her story of faith and challenges she’s struggled to remain content and yet, by God’s grace, able to receive God’s joy even in and through the fire. Her faith strengthens mine.
Do you have this kind of hope and faith? I can tell you it is only in Jesus that you can. I know, that’s offensive. But it doesn’t mean it’s not true. And if it is, aren’t you glad that you know? That there is a way to perfect peace, where you will lack nothing? Isn’t that what we all strive for? To be content in life? And what if all along, that’s been there available to you, by a Good God who knows the pain you feel and is saying, hope is alive because I sent my Son, Jesus, to make a way for you to be the way you were meant to be.
There is no other name under heaven by which man can call on. That is what the men who spent the most life changing time with Jesus said about Him. Men, who before knowing Jesus was the Son of God, struggled with His teachings and understanding His claims. And yet after knowing, they took that truth to the death and suffered for it in their remaining life. They knew this life is short and what mattered was staying true to the One who made us all.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith brings steadfastness. And let steadfastness have it’s full effect so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4
I hope that in some way God will show you His goodness so that you may see even without understanding. I hope He will help you know His love so that you may trust and be content in Him even if your circumstances do not change or you continue in waiting for it. I pray this for myself as I walk day to day struggling with my desires that are not from God and my desires that are.
Because life is too short to walk in anything less. And eternity is too important to waste time trying to walk in anything else outside God’s way. I see it and I am learning it. And I am so heartbroken for those who don’t and continue to chase after the wind to come up short and in want. You can know Him too, and He’s calling if you are listening. Ask Him to show you.
