But I need to be. Paul said in Philippians 4:11 that he "learned to be content in whatever circumstances" he was in.
We need to do that too.
I need to do that.
When we aren't content where we are at it's like rushing our kids' lives, rushing to see them grow.
Now I ask that you indulge me a bit. I'm going to share a couple pictures of my oldest child and talk about him a bit -- but the reason is to compare it to our spiritual lives.
Baby Ry and I had a lot of fun. Shannon was gone most of his first year of life so it was just me and my son much of the time. Back then there were no cell phones and calling long distance was mighty expensive. So days, even weeks went by without any contact with my husband. To be honest, I was not living in contentment at that time. I hadn't learned it yet. I tried. I was doing my best to live for Jesus, but not sure if any light shone out of my life at all.
But life is process. And I sure enjoyed this time with my son.
I am excited to see what God does his life and what Ryan does with God and his future. I'm not looking forward to him not living in our home anymore but I know he is just going to soar in life. I'm so excited to see that.
By the way, this picture was taken at The Capital Building in Pierre, South Dakota. A lot of the kids who attend the King of Hearts Dance take pictures at the Capital beforehand. It is a neat building to tour. It is of course our state capital building where the legislature and the governor do their business.
Our spiritual lives can be compared to the growth of a child from infant to adult. Each stage is very important and shouldn't be rushed.
But they shouldn't be prolonged either. We gotta keep growing. If we aren't growing we are stagnating and falling back. I have to share a couple verses with you:
"Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new. Now it will spring forth; Will you even be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:18-19
That's God talking to me. That's God talking to you. Seriously! NOW it will spring forth. It's beginning right now.
Life is so full of meaning and purpose when you are tied to God Almighty.
Everything has meaning. Absolutely everything.
Here's the second verse I want to share with you:
"Consider it all joy my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
James 1:2-3
Oops. I guess I just shared two verses. But anyway, I know you probably have heard that verse and it seems so dreary. Like the time when your parents say, "This is good for you" but it doesn't feel good at all.
But there's something that happens when we are in the midst of a trial that makes everything worth it. If we press into God He will show us a part of Himself we have never yet seen. God is vast. God is eternal. God is limitless. And when He reveals Himself to us in a new way, nothing else matters.
That is the joy I think of (well, at least right now). There are other aspects of the joy but hold onto the hope of knowing Jesus Christ in a new way.
Wow. Wow. Wow.
If you don't get that, ask Him to show Himself to you. Maybe you've never asked Him to be a real part of your life. It isn't about rules. It isn't about anything but Him, knowing Him, leaning on Him, living with Him.