Philippians 4:12-13 says, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. 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 everything through him who gives me strength."
Sometimes I'll read verses and think to myself, "This is a tough pill to swallow." Philippians 4:12 is one of those times.
Content in any and every situation?
Really?
A few years ago my daughter was a state champion gymnast. To see her do gymnastics was like looking at God smile. She was beautiful, graceful, and captivating to watch.
Then one night while practicing for one of the largest tournaments she'd ever competed in she fell. It was a move she'd done hundreds of times with the greatest of ease. But this time something went terribly wrong and that one mistake ended her gymnastic dreams.
We spent a year going from doctor to doctor only to be told she'd never be able to support the weight of her body on her injured shoulder again.
I'll be honest, this was a tough pill to swallow. Watching a 14 year old girl wrestle with the fact that her dreams were stripped from her doesn't exactly lend itself to feelings of contentment. Now, I know in the grand scheme of life, people face much worse situations. But in her world, this was huge.
It was so tempting to want to wallow in the "why" questions and tell God He'd hurt our feelings.
Why did this happen?
Why didn't you stop this God?
Why weren't my prayers answered?
Have you ever been there? Have you ever had a big situation in your life where you just couldn't process why God would allow this to happen? Or maybe even a small annoyance like losing your keys, having a flat tire, or forgetting your laptop on a plane.
It's so tempting to wallow in the why.
Asking why is perfectly normal. Asking why isn't unspiritual. However, if asking this question pushes us farther from God rather than drawing us closer to Him, it is the wrong question.
If asking the why question doesn't offer hope, what will?
The what question.
In other words: "Now that this is my reality, what am I supposed to do with it?"
Tomorrow, I'll give you a list of effective "what" questions to replace the why questions. And I'll tell you the sweet ending of Ashley's gymnastics loss. She has found the contentment. Not in what happened but in the sweet perspective God's teaching her.
In the meantime, is there something in your life where contentment seems to be a tough pill to swallow? Have you found yourself wallowing in the why's? Was there anything from Philippians 4 that specifically encouraged you in your struggle?
Until tomorrow....
Sometimes I'll read verses and think to myself, "This is a tough pill to swallow." Philippians 4:12 is one of those times.
Content in any and every situation?
Really?
A few years ago my daughter was a state champion gymnast. To see her do gymnastics was like looking at God smile. She was beautiful, graceful, and captivating to watch.
Then one night while practicing for one of the largest tournaments she'd ever competed in she fell. It was a move she'd done hundreds of times with the greatest of ease. But this time something went terribly wrong and that one mistake ended her gymnastic dreams.
We spent a year going from doctor to doctor only to be told she'd never be able to support the weight of her body on her injured shoulder again.
I'll be honest, this was a tough pill to swallow. Watching a 14 year old girl wrestle with the fact that her dreams were stripped from her doesn't exactly lend itself to feelings of contentment. Now, I know in the grand scheme of life, people face much worse situations. But in her world, this was huge.
It was so tempting to want to wallow in the "why" questions and tell God He'd hurt our feelings.
Why did this happen?
Why didn't you stop this God?
Why weren't my prayers answered?
Have you ever been there? Have you ever had a big situation in your life where you just couldn't process why God would allow this to happen? Or maybe even a small annoyance like losing your keys, having a flat tire, or forgetting your laptop on a plane.
It's so tempting to wallow in the why.
Asking why is perfectly normal. Asking why isn't unspiritual. However, if asking this question pushes us farther from God rather than drawing us closer to Him, it is the wrong question.
If asking the why question doesn't offer hope, what will?
The what question.
In other words: "Now that this is my reality, what am I supposed to do with it?"
Tomorrow, I'll give you a list of effective "what" questions to replace the why questions. And I'll tell you the sweet ending of Ashley's gymnastics loss. She has found the contentment. Not in what happened but in the sweet perspective God's teaching her.
In the meantime, is there something in your life where contentment seems to be a tough pill to swallow? Have you found yourself wallowing in the why's? Was there anything from Philippians 4 that specifically encouraged you in your struggle?
Until tomorrow....
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