until the whole world hears

KING’S CHURCH BLOG


24th April 2020

Content in all circumstances

Do you ever feel frustrated and disappointed with where God has placed you? Unhappy where you are living, where you are studying or working, or with your financial situation?

Sometimes we might feel that we need a change in circumstances. To move house or change jobs for example, hoping that the grass is greener on the other side.

But maybe, we don’t need God to change our circumstances, we need God to change our hearts so we can say as Paul did in Philippians 4:11-12 “for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need”.

It's not always easy to live the life God has chosen for us. But we can trust his provision of grace, mercy, patience and growth wherever we are at, as long as we are looking to him to supply all of this.

It's ok to tell God we are not happy, but we can also thank him that we are in the place where He wants us to be, even if we’re struggling. It’s important to remember that God may keep us there for longer than we would like because he’s teaching us something.

I remember a few years ago when I was finding life particularly difficult and my Mum texted me these verses from 2 Corinthians 1:23-27 where Paul says that he suffered imprisonment, beatings (often near death!), being stoned, shipwrecked, adrift at sea, in danger from rivers, robbers, his own people, danger in the city and in the wilderness, in hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

Wow! That’s quite a list of suffering! This was a wakeup call if I'm honest, as well as an encouragement! My situation was nothing like what Paul went through! I needed to stop wallowing in self-pity and get on with learning to be content in my situation and allowing God to use that time to change me.

During that time I learnt patience and endurance (something that God’s continuing teach me ... I've not arrived yet!), and how to rely on God more. I can honestly say that when my circumstances eventually changed, I was so thankful to God, and really appreciated, more than I probably would have done before, my new circumstances. It didn’t mean life was completely fine and dandy from then on. That's not the way life works is it? However, the reality of knowing that God has got my back was immense.

He's such a good, kind and patient God. Always there for us, always championing us, always loving us, always there to guide us if we will just ask him for help. King David, who wrote so many of the Psalms, is often found to be pouring out his heart to God, crying out for the help that only God can provide. We can do the same. God is always listening to us and when we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. What a wonderful heavenly Father we have, in all circumstances.


Katie Scott

Posted by Katie Scott
13:59


BLOG ARCHIVE