Lenten Journey – Day 23
I have totally been digging this spring weather. The sunshine, warmth and melting snow put an extra spring in my step and joy in my heart… That is, until I discovered that it’s been 25 degrees warmer in the Twin Cities where I used to live. Suddendly my joy turned to sorrow and my spring step turned to spring envy.
Why is it that the grass is always greener on the other side? Well… because it’s warmer, obviously. But what is the struggle within me that is content with what I have until I see someone that has something more or better? Why can’t I, as the Apostle Paul says, “be content in all circumstances” (Phil. 4:11)?
Maybe the key is in what Paul says just before that: “I have learned to be content in all circumstances” is what he says. Contentment is a process of learning to detach ourselves more and more from the desires of the world and attach ourselves more and more to the desires of Christ. Unfortunately, I’m afraid that the education often takes place at the “school of hard knocks” – the struggles, pain and suffering of life.
School is open and class is in session. I just don’t want to sit in the front row.
Prayer for Today:
Father, teach me to be content in all circumstances.
Give me neither poverty nor riches.
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name. (Prov. 30:8-9)
But whatever the situation may be,
May I truly be able to say, “It is well with my soul.”
