Nov. 15, 2007 - More thoughts on contentment
Contentment. This sure is an area that the Lord is working on me! More from "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow:
She says "Most of us base our contentment on circumstances, on our feelings, or on other people". Guilty as charged!!! When things are difficult, when I am discouraged that things aren't working out the way I'd hoped, I DO NOT feel content! And being the emotionally driven person that I am, I do tend to base my contentment on how I feel.
But she goes on to say "True contentment is separate from our circumstances. Contentment is a state of the heart, not a state of affairs." I sure need to be reminded of that! Again and again, because I'm a little slow! Ok, really, really slow! I sure am thankful for my VERY patient Lord.
Linda sure captures the heart of my struggle in her book. I can really relate to her! She shares her "journey to contentment" and how the Lord used some problems with her teen children to show her this area of need. She shared that she became a Christian in college (like me!) and was excited to raise her children in a Christian home (me again!). She bought into the idea (also like I have) that if you "pump all the right things (God, His Word) into my children, they will automatically love and obey God." When she saw that this plan of hers wasn't working according to HER plan, she became anxious and depressed. Ouch! That's me! A friend of hers pointed out that it was a "control" issue. This is so very true! I want to see results, NOW, and I don't want to wait on God's timing. I worry about the future for my kids. Will they make right choices? Will they follow the Lord? We have mainly unsaved family that does not agree with our decision to homeschool and there is constant criticism there. They always want to point out to me (and often to my kids) what they are "missing". And to my dismay, sometimes my kids are swayed by that! Sometimes I am, too! I realize fully that I fall short in so many areas......don't really need someone to shine a spotlight on it! :)
I do try to turn those times of criticism and hurt over to the Lord. It is a constant struggle. But I am reminded that "in this world you will have trouble but take heart! I have overcome the world". I CAN do ALL things through CHRIST who strengthens me.
I am so very, very thankful that I do not have to do this on my own! Jesus, my friend, my gentle Shepherd is right there with me to hold me in His arms and gently lead me. He is my strength when I am weak, He is the treasure that I seek, He is my all in all!
