Have you ever been restless, unsettled? It can be described as uneasy, lacking stability, worried, unpredictable, and not yet resolved. I could be described as all the above right now. Chad and I have flipped houses several times. The last house we sold was a year ago. We decided as we looked for another house we would stay in our travel trailer. We have gotten all types of looks, comments, jokes, you name it we have heard it. The truth is our family has done very well this past year. Complete with Santa leaving Christmas presents under the live tree outside, with a campfire! (Santa was pretty awesome!) Our camper is thirty- five feet long with three slides, with roughly about 300 square feet. Yes I know some of your closets or bathrooms are probably bigger! The point is that we love to be outside in nature so it has worked great for us, and cost us practically nothing.
Then everything changed. We finally found a house with acreage, so we made an offer. After about six months of dealing with the people we came to an agreement. We set our close date, and counted it down. The amazing thing was now the camper seemed so tiny, now it seemed like a pain to get something from storage; we became short with each other, and claustrophobic. What had changed? The camper was still the exact same size, but our attitude had changed. We had not concentrated on the negatives of the camper because it was meeting our basic needs, serving our purpose- storing food, holding clothing, and giving us shelter. The very minute we let ourselves move into our desire or wants; we immediately became restless and unsatisfied with our environment.
We were suppose to close yesterday and the mortgage company called saying they were missing a paper so we could not close. I am not going to lie I was beyond mad. It was a horrible scene my kids were crying and I was trying to cancel workers. I just wanted to either hit somebody or cry with my kids.
The words of Paul began ringing heavy in my ears. The only true satisfaction comes from being intertwined with the Lord. Realizing that my situations around me may change, but God never changes.
Philippians 4:11-13 I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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 all this through him who gives me strength.
He is telling us the only way not to be dissatisfied is by making Christ everything to us. When we put our hopes on other things such as money, houses, vacations, and cars, what happens when we lose them or never attain them? Disappointment. I don’t think Paul for a minute is trying to say he did not feel the emotions of disappointment, heartache, or maybe exasperation. I think he is simply saying those are all part of life, but we do not have to stay there because we are truly satisfied through the one who does not disappoint.
Isaiah 40 gives us encouragement to find this authentic satisfaction.
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Dear Lord I ask you today to help us see through all the things that distract us, and bid for our attention. When things build and build binding us and stealing our joy; I pray that you will help us focus on you. Remind us today, if we have you-we have everything! Amen
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