Happiness Within
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With all the ups and downs of recent weeks/months - the Lord has been calling my attention once again to "being content."
"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:11-13
Trying to muddle through in my own strength never works. I need to immediately call upon the Lord to help me.
Affliction/trials/suffering - these things are a largely unappreciated gift in our lives. Everyone at one time or another will face these things. It's part of life in our fallen world. It's not whether we will face these hard times, but how we will face them. Life is so worth living despite the hard times and suffering. The challenge is to suffer well - to find the good in the suffering.
A young woman attending a conference on happiness who was crippled by polio said - "It is my experience that suffering and pain are, unfortunately, great character builders - not that suffering is good in itself, but because it often helps to shift our expectation of happiness from without to a search for it from within."
If I've learned anything in the last 9 years, it's that there is so much good to be found in times of suffering. There are lessons to be learned that we won't learn in any other way. Do I wish I hadn't had to go through the hard times - especially in losing my husband? Of course! But at the same time, I'm so grateful for the closeness of fellowship with the Lord that came out of it and the wonderful lessons He has taught me. Somehow those things help balance the scales of the hard things. There is hope for good things in suffering when we walk with the Lord!
So - to go back to contentment - with the roller coaster of recent times.....the Lord has been reminding me to look for the good again in the hard times and to keep my eyes on Him. I will think I'm doing that, and then He'll show me where I'm trying to make it in my own strength. I'm amazed at how easily I can slip into that mode if I'm not careful!
I'm hoping (and praying) for better times ahead - how I would love that! But I want to keep my eyes clearly focused on the Lord in whatever comes my way. I want to be "content" in every situation with His grace and strength. Contentment and happiness truly come when we stay close to the Lord in trusting Him in whatever comes our way.
"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts Him!" Psalm 34:8
"You keep track of all my sorrows." Psalm 56:8
"The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to Him and are safe." Proverbs 18:10
"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment." Romans 5:3-3 NLT
"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." James 1:2,3
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord."
"A contented person has learned to accept the bitter with the sweet." I'm endeavoring to learn that afresh!
We are having lots of "load shedding" (where the electricity is turned off for blocks of time in order to prevent a grid collapse). Many days it's for 7 hours a day. Some days it's been 10 hours a day. You can probably imagine the disruption it causes. Much of daily life has to be planned around those times. It causes lots of frustration, and things get damaged with the surges of electricity.
When we have load shedding during the night, it is so intensely dark. One night laying in bed I literally couldn't see my hand in front of my face. Rechargeable light bulbs (that go to half strength during load shedding so its not completely dark), power surge protectors, and battery powered lanterns are a great help.
Dealing with the darkness of load shedding has made me think a lot of how God has taken us from darkness into light. I have a new gratitude for that. I'm thankful that even in the darkness of what we're walking through each day - I live in the wonderful light of Jesus. I sense the light of His presence during the dark hours. My heart has been stirred to pray for those who are living in spiritual darkness and don't know the light the Lord brings.
He is our light. He is our comfort. He is our protector. He is our guide. He is with us always, shining bright and holding back the darkness. He never leaves us, never forsakes us. How I love Him for all He is to us with His light.
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5 NIV
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
"God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" Psalm 27:1
"Then God said, 'Let there be light; and there was light.' " Genesis1:3
I am so grateful for the light that He creates daily in our lives. It is a guide to my path.