Contentment

God has been teaching me relentlessly these past few weeks. My last post shared with you how He is using my trials and troubles to build me up in purity, understanding, patience, kindness and sincere love, all through the power of the Holy Spirit. In order to grow these precious, priceless qualities within me, He is also teaching me about contentment; How to be satisfied with who I am, what I have, what I don’t have, and where I am in life.

I think that’s something we all struggle with. Both culturally and spiritually—contentment is a constant battle. Commercials, advertisements, the latest gizmos and gadgets; new cars, new homes, clothes, jewelry—we are constantly being smacked by a barrage of messages that say “You’re not good enough!” “You need better things!” “You’re not where you should be!” “Look at what they have!” “Your job sucks!”

And so we yearn. We cry. We covet. We desire for things we don’t need. We beat ourselves—and others—up. We develop a sense of entitlement, when really all these things are just fluff. The only thing we need is Jesus for our spirit, and food, clothing and shelter for our bodies. But in a world where we are grown to desire more, more, more; how can we learn to be satisfied with what we already have and where we are in life?

How can I be content being a 24-year-old woman who is going through a divorce, lives with her parents and is working a career that isn’t quite her passion or what she went to school for? After being on my own and in a relationship for so long, how can I be content depending on my parents and being single and lonely again?

I’ve been trying to discover that answer, and friends, I joyfully proclaim the response to you in this:

 ¹ There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:

 ² a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 ³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,
 ⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
 ⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
 ⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
 ⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
   a time to be silent and a time to speak,
 ⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace.

 ⁹ What do workers gain from their toil? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³ That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

(Ecclesiastes 3: 1-13)

You see, God doesn’t play it by ear, no ad libbing here! Before you were born He knew you, He created you, He planned each step, He knew when you would sin, and He planned out what HE would do in your life. So He knows that there truly is a season for everything.

There was a season when all I wanted was to get out of high school and go to college—and over time that happened. Then the season came where I worked hard through college and longed for the peace of graduation and no more homework—well, in God’s timing that happened too! What I am going through now will not always be! Read verse one again, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…” God says there is a season. Think of spring, summer, fall and winter—they don’t last forever! They last for just a time, and then they change.

I am going through a season of trials, sorrow and loneliness, but that’s all they are; seasons. They won’t last forever! And boy, oh boy does that give me hope! But I know that they are seasons, which means they come back around. This is why God uses each trial to strengthen us and teach us, so we will be better equipped for the next season.

Thank you God for the trials in my life for I know that through them you are building me. I have faith and confidence that this just a season. How long of a season, only You know. But I joyfully give thanks for my trials, and look forward to a sunnier season filled with abundance!

It’s my prayer that this gives you hope to endure whatever it is you’re going through. A little change of perspective can sometimes change your entire outlook, and in turn change how you deal with things.

Which reminds me of a devotional I read from Girlfriends in God a week or so ago. The author lamented about a day when she was so weary and so sick-and-tired of meaningless chores! She angrily mopped the kitchen floors that had just been cleaned and re-dirtied by her children. As she shoved the mop back and forth, all-the-while complaining and grumbling, God gave her a different perspective and she cried out to God. Thank you Lord for strong hands and health to be able to stand and hold this mop! Thank you for this home that I even have a floor to mop in the first place! Thank you for my messy children and the blessing of serving them and cleaning up after them.  (This is my paraphrased version.)

You see, God wants us to be content and thankful in every situation. Lately I’ve found myself complaining under my breath, mad about meaningless things, yearning for things that just aren’t in this season. And God had something to say about it, just a simple one sentence, but clear enough for anyone. “Do everything without complaining or grumbling.” (Philippians 2:14) God desires for us to be thankful and content with what we have, who we are, who HE is, His timing and where we are in life.

He changed my perspective. God, how blessed I am to have loving parents that are willing to take care of me in my season of need. How blessed I am to have good health. How blessed am I to have a wonderful job that pays for more than my needs! How blessed am I to be young and still have so many opportunities before me! God, your blessings are uncountable, You have been so good to me…

Yes, a little change of perspective, the confirmation from God that life comes in seasons, and a grateful attitude—all of these things God has used mightily in me these past few weeks. I pray that this too has blessed you, and that the things I have learned may teach you today.

I’d like to share an incredible sermon I heard this Sunday at church that really melded together all of the things that God has been saying to me. Pastor Rich preached a powerful message called “Godliness with Contentment is Eternal Wealth”. Click here to go to our church website and click on the sermon with the aforementioned title (or just click the play button) to listen to the sermon. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Be encouraged my friends, be encouraged my soul!

Love,

Amanda

Being Sculpted

When God is trying to teach me a lesson, He often has to tell me the same thing multiple times, through different outlets and various people; and it’s usually not until the tenth time that I finally realize, Oh Lord! I get it now! I hear you—I hear you.

I’ve been going through that for a long time now. My stagnant divorce and the cumbersome painful baggage I carry because of it tugs at my heart and emotions. There are droughts of deep depression. There are mountains of gloriously happy days. But for every peak, there is a valley as deep as the mountain is high.

This divorce has drug out far longer than it should have. Papers have been misfiled. The judge has rejected my paperwork multiple times. And now, I have to go to court to explain why there were mistakes. And the court date has been set for a day I cannot attend. Of course!

Yesterday threw me into hysterical tears. “If it’s not one thing, it’s another!” My boss exclaimed as I called her in tears explaining why I couldn’t return that afternoon. (P.s. Thank you Lord for such a kind and compassionate manager!) I then found myself on the doorsteps of a dear friend who held me as I cried, even though she didn’t know why I was there unexpectedly, sobbing on her shoulder. (P.p.s. thank you Lord for my compassionate friend!)

I know God is trying to teach me something. Obviously. Well, I know He wants to build my patience, because I’m a go-getter type of woman with a typical American attitude of I-want-it-all-and-I-want-it-NOW! I think about where I used to be on the patience scale and where I am now, and I think Hey! I’m doing great, I’m so much better than I used to be. And then through these storms and trials God tells me Yes, you are better, but you’re nowhere near where you need to be. You see, God doesn’t want us to compare ourselves to who we used to be, or even to those around us. No. God left us one comparison, and that was Jesus Christ.

Through my hysterical tears yesterday, my sweet friend told me, “God is molding you!” as she scraped my arms like a sculptor would shave unwanted clay from a statue, “And being molded hurts. But he’s making you stronger. He’s trying to teach you something.” She related a recent cancer scare she had, and how God had used that looming unknown to strengthen her and teach her.

I thought about that all night. When I went home I went for a run. In my heart I cried out to God, God! I just can’t do this anymore. I’m not strong enough. I just can’t fight this battle anymore. Lord, I can’t do this. I’m stepping down, I give this to you. Please Lord, please fight for me.

And through my tears, and sweat and gasping for air (mind you, I was running, and uphill no less…) God’s sweet, but firm voice said to me, Finally! Sweet thing, I’ve been trying to tell you this for a loooooong time. Remember this: I’m the one wearing the gloves. This was never your fight to begin with. I got this! Just trust and follow me.”

Wow, I love it when God gets my attention. Okay God. It’s hard for me to see why you would take a seemingly simple divorce and draw it out so long. But I know and I trust that it’s because there is a lesson in all of this. You are building me, preparing me and creating me to be the strong faithful woman that I need to be, that YOU have planned me to be.

Earlier in the day I cried out in prayer as I drove home, God! Things aren’t going according to plan; it’s just one mess up after another! Then God stopped me in my tracks. Not going according to plan...and whose’ plan is that Amanda? Ouch. God, forgive me. I have my own plans, and desires. You’re right. Help me to remember that when it all seems to be going ‘wrong’ that truly everything is going according to plan—Your plan, Your good and perfect plan. I trust you, I am following you.

When my husband abandoned me and I discovered the lies and secrets, I never once asked God why. Some people just need to know why things are happening. I don’t need to know why, because He’s already told me in His word. Every storm, every trial, everything good and bad, everything works together for the good of those that love the Lord! (Romans 8:28) He uses every experience in our lives to prepare us for the next. Who I am now is not who I need to be in the future. Who I am now is not who I will be forever. God! Please mold me. Prune me of the things that hold me back. It hurts, God it hurts! But I know through the pain I will experience victory!

Recently a friend of mine posted something along the lines of “The pain and suffering of sore muscles after a workout is a reward for a job done well.” At first I thought that was strange, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. Yes, it hurts to be shaped and molded, but when you push on through the pain, you experience the satisfaction of seeing the change! Can I get an Amen?!

So I put away my tears. I gathered the pieces of my broken heart, and gave the gloves back to God, who always had them anyway. This morning I awoke and prayed and read a daily devotional from Girlfriends in God (you can sign up for their daily devotions here.) There was no doubt that God was still shaking me by the shoulders and teaching me a lesson.

I know this blog is already quite long, but I’d like to post the devotional. Please read through the whole thing. You won’t be disappointed!

Storms Are For Our GoodApril 24th, 2012 By Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth

Psalm 46:1 (NRSV) “God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble.”  

Friend to Friend

While vacationing in the mountains, a man watched as a lumberman occasionally jabbed his sharp hook into a log, separating it from the others floating down the mountain stream. The man asked the lumberman why he was separating some of the logs.

The worker replied, “These logs may all look alike to you but a few of them are very different. The ones I let pass are from trees that grew in the valley. They were always protected from the storms. Their grain is coarse. The ones I have hooked and set apart from the rest came from high up on the mountains. From the time they were small, they were beaten by strong winds. That toughens the trees and gives them a fine and beautiful grain. They are too good to use for plain lumber so we save them for our best work.”

I don’t like storms. Blue skies and bright sunshine are my personal preference. The same is true in life. I often think boredom is highly underrated and tend to long for a day without problems, a crisis or some kind of disaster. When a storm does hit, my first reaction is to look for a way of escape. I want to avoid pain and sidestep complicated situations if at all possible. However, looking back over my life, the reality is that my greatest growth and the deepest truths God has to offer have been accomplished through the fiercest storms.

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He feverishly prayed for God’s rescue, but with every day that passed, his hope weakened. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood for protection from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. Everything was lost. Stunned with grief and anger, the man cried, “God, how could you do this to me!” The next morning, he woke to the sound of a ship approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. “How did you know I was here?” the weary man asked. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.
Storms are for our good.

Let’s Pray

Father, I want to thank You for the storms in my life because they make me turn to you. They keep me on my face before You. I am desperate for Your power and presence at work in my life. Anything that makes me cry out to You can be counted as a blessing. I love You, Lord, and trust You with every storm that comes my way.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Read 1 Peter 4:12-13 “Do not be surprised at the painful things you are now suffering. These things are testing your faith.” (ICB) In your own words, describe the testing you are going through today in your life. How is it testing and strengthening your faith?

Read 2 Corinthians 6:6 (NLT) “We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit.” This verse lists the qualities God wants to create in us through storms that come our way. Which ones are present in your life? Which ones is He trying to produce in you today? Are you willing to let Him do so? 

More from the Girlfriends

Your trials are many and you have been battered by some brutal storms. I know.  But more importantly, God knows. In Him, you are a storm survivor.  And when you are face to face with a storm, you are standing on the edge of discovery. Don’t tell God how big your storm is. Tell your storm how big your God is!

Did you catch that?!?! The whole devotional spoke—no SCREAMED at me! Especially the verses 1 Peter 4:12-13 and 2 Corinthians 6:6. God couldn’t be more crystal clear. The painful things I am suffering through are testing my faith in order that God may grow my purity, understanding, patience, kindness and sincere love, all through the power of the Holy Spirit.

I am dumb-founded, stricken with a loss for words. God, I hear you—I hear you! Open the eyes of my heart. Mold me, make me, shape me more and more like you! May these trials make me, not break me. I know where you want my heart to grow and I pray for the humility to be obedient and let these tough times build me. I am Yours and all I have is Yours. You can have it all. Thank you Lord. I praise You and thank You for Your goodness and mercies. Thank you for seeing the big picture when all I see is the here and now. Lead me Lord, I’ll follow.

Thank you for joining me in this journey my friends. Be encouraged my friends, be encouraged my soul!

Love,

Amanda

Long Way Home

Do you ever feel like every door you encounter is closed?  I do. A lot. I battle depression but try to remind myself that things are already so much better, and over time God will heal all wounds and grow me. But still, life is a journey. Sometimes that journey feels like war. I'm knee high in the muddy trenches of this battle ground. I'm running for my life. Then I'm lost in the woods. And around the bend I'm safe on high ground. Then just a few more steps and I've found myself in another valley.

But I guess that is just how this journey goes. People trip us up. Sin tries to run us down. We mess up. But we have to keep on moving. If we stand still and cry in the shadows of the valley, we might miss out on the gloriously radiant sunshine that is just a few steps around the corner. 

So even when I'm weak, and feel so very alone, I must remember that Christ is walking with me. Not only is He walking with me, He is walking before me--leading me through the shadows, guiding me through the sunshine, carrying me when I'm too tired to keep going. He's always there. He's mapped out this journey. He knows where the path is going. And even when the valley's seem so deep, we must remember that He is in control, and that He guided us around even worse danger. 

He loves us, and we're just taking the long way home.