Joy in the Journey: Being Content in Your Circumstances

Much is changing in the Body of Christ right now. I am sure that all of
you
have felt the strains, twists and tears of these changes.

It is very much a birthing process: There is pain, confusion, effort,
frustration. We are feeling the agony; many of us are experiencing
great
uncertainty as we prepare for huge life changes. Once we leave the womb
and
are born into this new season, we cannot return to the old season, no
matter
how warm and welcoming we remember it being. What was safe before is
not
safe now. Depending on our circumstances and our approaching level of
change, we can be terrified. At the very least, we can be horrifically
overwhelmed.

In this process, if we are not anchored to God and what He's told us,
we
could be swept away by the torrent and lose faith that God is in
control,
that He is looking out for us.


The Importance of Living in Your Change

This is why it is important for us to truly embrace these changing
times. It
is here in transitional states, when we have no clue, no savings
account and
nothing to fall back on, that we grow in Him in leaps and bounds, more
than
we might have been able to grow in the past 10 years. As you've
probably
heard before, the night is the darkest just before the dawn. We usually
learn more from 10 days of agony than 10 years of contentment.

So it is important to actually experience change. How does it feel? Why
does
it feel like that? For a moment, ignore the dark, and figure out what
is
actually good about the situation you're in. Make a list. Write it
down.
Increase your faith and hold on, because change is coming, and if you
do not
lose your faith, you will emerge victorious and resplendent on the
other
side. When God changes His children and their life perceptions, He will
always bring them promotion, financial increase, deeper relationships
and/or
an abiding peace that all is well in His hand.


Contentment in All Circumstances

Paul instructed us to be content in whatever circumstances we found
ourselves in (Philippians 4:11-13). This isn't restricted to just being
peaceful when you're broke or not complaining when you're sick; it's
true of
right now. When was the last time you took a moment to realize your
happiness? If you cannot find one thing to be happy about in your life
right
now, I'd venture to say that the problem's with you and not because
your
circumstances are so dire.

If we get caught up in always looking forward to what's coming, we'll
see a
lot of the skyline but miss the many miracles and beautiful things that
are
happening in our lives right now. Life truly is beautiful, even in the
dark.


At the end of my life, I'd like to be able to look back and say that
I've
loved this journey. That it was worth it. That I remember the details,
the
little nooks and crannies that made it an adventure. That I remember
what it
smelled like, tasted like, felt like and how it handled. This is what
it
means to be content in your circumstances.

We normally don't realize how much we're missing until we've
successfully
navigated our change. All of a sudden, the change has happened; it's
over,
and we're left with the difference. I don't know about you, but I want
to be
left with satisfaction, too. I want to be left with the details and the
reasons and the overwhelming awareness of God's hand in the small
things. I
want to know His presence in the whispers and His laughter in the midst
of
the storms. This is what happens when we embrace change and don't just
try
to survive it.