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Content. Really?


As I was reading A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 this afternoon (which is AMAZING), I read the verses from Philippians that are so often quoted, "I have the ability to be content in any and every situation." Which hit me like a ton of bricks. Just this morning I was saying to myself, "I HATE this...hate it. It's not what I asked for me...it's not what I asked for my family."

So there you have it. A stretchable situation. Funny how we never seem to run out of those :). I need to learn to be content in the middle of this situation...which happens to be one I had hoped never to be in.

How in the world can one be content in situations we dread? Grateful for suffering I can understand. Even joy in suffering I can understand. But contentment? Until an hour ago, my heart went EEEEEKS! NOOOOOOOOOO! My heart is hard. And I am stubborn.

The glorious book states: "...[it] is made possible by the unrelenting effort of Christ on our behalf. How He works to clear the life of rocks of stoney unbelief. How He tries to tear out the roots of bitterness. He attempts to break up the hard, proud human heart that is set like sun-dried clay. He then sows the seed of His own precious Word, which, if given half a chance to grow will produce rich crops of contentment and peace. He waters this with the dews and rain of His own presence by the Holy Spirit. He tends and cares and cultivates the life, longing to see it become rich and green and productive."

With this and some reflection I can see that contentment is not only possible...it is what I'm craving. I don't think it's stagnant contentment I'm looking for, but rather the idea of active contentment that I am here because I need to learn something. Contentment because I can't see the big picture but my God can. Contentment in the hope of where this stretching is taking me.

Here are some tough questions we can all ask. Can we be content because we have total faith in the promises of God's Word? Can we be content with Him as our Shepherd? Can we be content in this place because it is He who has us here...because it is He who gave permission for us to be here?

My answer is yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I am so calmed by the idea that God's word can grow in me, if only given HALF a chance. Not even a whole chance. Just a little. Just enough to get into me. Once it's there, I have faith that the Holy Spirit can do the rest. And today that "rest" means He takes this idea of being content, and turns it into something real. The evidence of that is peace. It's waiting for me...I can feel it. :)

It's waiting for you too my friends...Peace and contentment. That we find them both in Him are my prayers for all of us today!

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