Christian Living

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"I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?" Ecclesiastes 3:22


In my life, I have at various times been in places, situations and jobs that were not exactly everything that I had ever hoped and dreamed of in my innermost being--and that's putting it mildly. In fact, sometimes if I actually expressed (which I rarely do) my bare, honest and unadulterated opinion of the people and events involved in certain circumstances, you word hear words like, "repugnant", "hostile", "adverse", "antagonistic", "injurious" or "detrimental." "Resent", "scorn" or "despise would not be too far off the mark of what goes through my mind at these times, either. Although I maintain enough of a cool façade that most people would probably never guess the quiet seething, slow burn that is going on in my mind.

But the thing I have noticed is that the solution to the the problem is absolutely positively NEVER EVER comes while I am in that negative, complaining state of mind--even if God is the only one who hears my gripes. Things don't turn around until I take a step of faith and obey what God is telling me to do in spite of my own inclinations and "feelings." Feelings have little to do with obedience--no parent would put up with a child saying I'll obey what you asked me to do "when I FEEL like it." Neither are we to pick and choose when to obey God's directions, whether general operating procedures of His manual for life, the Bible or specific instructions He gives you personally for the circumstances and callings in your own life. Like Indiana Jones' "leap from the lion's head", God wants us to take that step of faith and trust Him to provide the solid ground under our feet even when all our senses are telling us logically, "There's nothing there. Don't do it, you'll fall to your death. Things will end badly for you if you go that way. Stay on the safe known path."

God rarely explains in step-by-step detail how the thing He asks you to do works into His grand plan and where it will lead. He simply asks you to trust Him, do as He asks and trust the results to Him. There can be great contentment in that--just walking one step at time with Him without demanding logical explanations for everything. God's plans are not logical in the human sense of the word but for all that, they do work out exactly as He promises and even better than we can ask or imagine in many cases. We only get one shot at life so why waste your energy in dissatisfaction and complaining? When you are truly convinced that God's way is the best way even though you only get one line of script at a time, it only makes sense to make the most of where God has put you and cultivate contentment in your heart regardless of your circumstances. Not a gritted teeth, reluctantly resigned, "OK fine God. You God, me puny human. I know your way is higher than mine so let's just get this over with. I will do this if I must because you say so…." (you can almost hear the unspoken "but I really don't like this….you owe me now God!" attitude hiding behind a guise of patient suffering)

To find true contentment beyond your feelings and aggravating circumstances, seek the contentment in every arena of life to which God calls you. Look for His purpose, why did He put You here at this time and place. Assume that if He called you here (wherever "here" is) that He has a reason, something you are supposed to do, be it pray for someone, witness to others explicitly or just be quietly faithful and diligent in the mundane, everyday tasks and let your life show His glory. You may not see the results immediately, or things may even seem to worsen but keep your eyes and heart focused on the fact that God knows what He is doing even when it means things are uncomfortable for you for a time and you may be tempted to doubt that God notices or cares. Even then, if you just resolutely make a conscious decision to trust in the mercy of His hand and the wisdom of His plan, no matter how it feels to you or what you have to endure on His behalf to bring about His purposes, contentment will become a habit that flows more naturally. When you find yourself "stuck" in a place that doesn't seem to fit with the calling and giftings He has placed in your life, pray and seek opportunities to uncover His reasons for placing you there for a season. Seek to fulfill the task or learn the lesson He has put in your path so that you may get on with the business of God in your life and flow from this season into the next.

Take time to notice His provision for you in spite of or even through the adverse circumstance. Consider what you have prayed for and how this situation might be an answer to that prayer even if it doesn't look like what you expected or wanted. Be grateful for the provision and ask God to show you His purpose for the unexpected package and how you are to handle it to grow in Him and bring honor and glory to His name. Be content that this is where God wants you at this time for reasons of His own. Trust His grand design and enjoy each moment of life because what you do with what He gives you, whether it seems pleasant, repulsive or ho hum to your human feelings and logic are all you are going to get. How you respond tells a great deal about your character and your walk with God; and your character and faithfulness in the end are the only heritage you can pass onto future generations that will have lasting influence for the continuance of the gospel and the glory of God.

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