Savoring the Savior #2

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
Philippians 4:11

Contentment is such an elusive state of mind. Why? Why is it that we rebel against a God who is perfect, who is all-knowing, and who has our very best in mind? We rebel and instead take our lives into our own hands, weaving our own plans, all the while reaching but not grasping that ever-elusive contentment.

Yet contentment is not attainable apart from living centered in God’s will. God is faithful. God is faithful – no matter what! We must rest in that confidence, and only then will contentment envelop us.

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
Proverbs 19:21

In a sense then, our contentment is directly proportionate to our obedience. God does say in Romans 8:28 that “in all things God works for the good” but it is followed by “for those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” The love here is active – how do we show love? One way is to obey Him. We obey Him by leaving our lives in His hands and trusting Him with the outcome. We trust God to meet our very deepest needs. Only He can do that – no one and nothing else. When that happens, contentment blossoms.

When we begin to feel the chords of discontent strumming in our hearts, we must ask ourselves – am I desiring now whatever God wants – what is His will, or am I lost in desiring what I want at this time? As we grow in relation to God, the two are often reflections of one another; yet the moment we take our eyes off God and lose focus on Him as our sole source of contentment, too often our “wants” shift as well.

Godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6

Holy Father, help us (help ME) to focus on you, to embrace that only you can reach into the depths of my heart and meet my every need in Your perfect way. Help me to have complete confidence in Your plans for my life. When those plans don’t seem to be a reflection of my wants, please help me to understand that means I have taken my eyes off of You.

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:25-26

What Right Have I?

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~Melody Beattie

What right have I to complain, to whine, or to feel discouraged? To do so would be to say to God, "I say that I have faith, but I do not fully trust You. This path You've chosen for me is not good enough for me." It would be as if to say, "You do not satisfy - I am looking for contentment in something apart from You."

To look at it that way brings a whole new perspective. I've been struggling through a period of discontent, a phase of impatience with a life that somehow seems to be on "pause." Yet the choice to view my life that way is mine and mine alone - if I choose to "pause" in life because this IS happening or this ISN'T happening, that is my mistake to own. God has passed every single breath, every moment of my life through His loving hands and has gifted me with it - what right do I have to squander it or gripe about the parts of it that I don't particularly like?

Sometimes I wonder if I am the only one who gets stuck in moments of focusing on what I don't have rather than what I do. It's so easy to get off track. Yet I am so blessed. I am healthy. I have a job that I love, even if right now is a stressful time. I was raised by two incredible Christian parents who are still together and who have always sought the best for me and from me. I have a wonderful sister who, in adulthood, has become one of my dearest friends. I have a brother-in-law who looks out for me in his own little "big brother" kind of way, and I have a spunky redheaded niece who makes me laugh and fills my heart with love. I have a loving church family, a home, pets, friends - truly, I have all that I need and much that I want. Why must I focus on what I don't have?

The truth is, I found myself wandering through a number of blogs today that told the stories of people I don't even know. Two recently lost their precious children to illness. One is recovering after a private plane crash caused burns to over 80% of her body. Others are facing family members or friends with illnesses, job losses, or any number of other struggles - yet even still, I was struck by the overwhelming sense of trust in God and surrender to the perfection of His plan no matter what. It put me to shame.

I bought a book Saturday called One Month to Live: Thirty Days to a No Regrets Life. Some in my church are studying it in fellowship groups, but I missed the start of that. I fought the draw to the book at first, thinking the title itself sounded so morbid. Yet God's voice kept pulling me closer and I know He wants me to look at things from a new perspective in coming days. The first line on the back of the book states: "Stop living like it doesn't matter." That just about says it all - I've been living with my finger on the pause button, taking it off for only moments at a time when something I wanted fell into place. It's time that I take my fingers off the controls altogether and fully live life NOW.

This Week's "Ouch!!"

"When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others." ~ Peace Pilgrim

This week has been somewhat of an "ouch" for me. God's speaking to me. Yet instead of a gentle whisper, this week has been all about the "elbow jab" approach. You know what I mean ... those times when you and a friend are seated alongside one another and out of nowhere, you feel that elbow jab into your side.

I much prefer the gentle whisper, but (sigh) I know myself, and sometimes I get so caught up in the doing or so independent that I know I need the shock value of that jab to catch my focus. There's been nothing major - just some shifting in attitudes as I've allowed the doldrums to set in a bit this past week. Also, a few jabs have been wonderful reminders of many blessings around me and the wonderful love of God. Life is good. Even when...

The quote above struck me tonight because one jab this week that I've had is that although I have honestly felt at peace, there has been some unrealized discord inside. How do I know? Well, most of you who know me know that I really, really do NOT like conflict. I will typically go out of my way to avoid it. But that doesn't mean that I don't feel it. Yet this week I have continually found myself feeling irritated or impatient with people who normally don't bring that out in me. Thankfully my conflict-avoidance kept any reactions and thus embarrassment on my part in check, because honestly there is really no explanation for my annoyance.

Then I read this quote and had an "a-ha" with a twist. I say that because I think that, in truth, the introductory clause SHOULD read "When you find peace within God..." because He's honestly the only true source of peace. Peace within myself comes and goes because I'm so very human - I can only place my trust and therefore only find peace in God.

So obviously my inexplicable impatience has a root in something out of kilter with my Precious Savior. Thank goodness He loves me still and nurtures me even when I feel a total grump. My prayer tonight is that I will fully trust in God and that wonderful peace I've allowed to slip through my fingers in the past week or so will wrap itself around me once again.

What about you? Has God been "elbow jabbing" you, trying to get your attention? Has He been gently whispering in those quiet moments? I am praying, too, that He will bring to you His total and unfathomable peace today.

Much love,
Sheryl