Sleep in Heavenly Peace
With the holidays, fast approaching, most of us are, in some way, focused on…
The trimmings of the season; what we will cook, how we might decorate, and what gifts we will give. I also know that with the rising cost of living having the discretionary income to handle the ‘extras’ can be tricky.
I am reminded of my husband and I when we were first married. We had a nice little nest egg early on but, despite both of us working, school expenses and life circumstances slowly chipped away at our perceived security.
There was a time when paper towels were a novelty in our home, and a $20 purchase warranted a call to your spouse to check the bank account. At this time, small gifts of food were celebrated, and nothing went to waste. We were determined to be independent, careful in our planning, and disciplined with the resources at hand. There was a time we would say a prayer and thank God, simply, that we had the money to fill the gas tank that week. There were seasons when we had to tell our children that we could not go to McDonald’s for lunch. And many more seasons when we gave gently used toys for Christmas gifts or made handmade treasures for our family.
It was not always easy, but we were never REALLY in want. This is not because we didn’t have things that were out of our reach (they were). It was lean times but they were also blessed times because God showed up again, and again. We had people randomly show up to our home and fill our fridge with food…. not once or twice but multiple times. We had large unexpected hospital bills anonymously paid, large gifts of consequence, like a vacuum cleaner, tv, kitchen aid mixer, and baby equipment.
One of the biggest decisions we made early on was to bring our needs before God. When the fridge was empty, we would pray. I remember once praying about my anxiety over our dwindling supplies. In asking for the provision we needed I was also asking for greater faith. And God is so good! The day we ate our last steak, more was provided to us so that we could not even fit it all in the freezer.
We were also intentionally generous and, at times, sacrificial in our giving. Somehow, we were always able to give a tithe from our paycheck. (Likely, because it came out first.) We purposed to have an open hand with what was “ours”. Over time, naturally, we had opportunities to help others in need. Sometimes it was through monetary gifts, other times it was through acts of service, or simply sharing of our resources. Being stingy was not allowed. So, in humility, with thankfulness we gave what extra we had and left the rest to God. Sometimes that was letting go of things we might need someday, but had no use for currently. Ironically, when we did give away the things we needed later, someone was always there to return the favor and replace what had been previously let go.
And so we found that in attending to the needs of others and in letting our own needs be known, a greater community was won. Friends blessing friends, blessing strangers, in a cyclical pattern. Where there is need, it is truly better to give then to receive. Oh, how our hearts know the difference between giving despite hard circumstance and giving what is easy. It does the soul good to think of others first in all circumstances.
I don’t want to leave you with the impression that we lived all this out perfectly. It was a season of learning. There were times when, out of fear, we held on too tightly to what we perceived as ours, but in trusting God, we have never been disappointed.
If you find yourself in hardship, look for what God might be trying to teach you. Are you able to say you are trusting in His ability to provide what you need? Is there pride that needs to be overcome in reaching out for help?
Refuse to compare yourself and your situation to others. Comparison is easy, it comes naturally to us. Comparing is one way we make sense of the world in which we live. This said, too often, it is used as a trap by our enemy to inflate the negative aspects of our situation and unfairly judge the agents at hand. If God is sovereign as we say He is, then any hardship I suffer is incorporated into His master plan. I can always rest that He is in control.
The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position. James 1:9
When difficulty is ongoing and trust is not the mainstay, bitterness and anger can creep in. We can think we are owed something better in choosing the path of pride- but contentment is the better way.
Sometimes we have to choose contentment. This takes intentionality and a refocusing on the good gifts God has given us. Thankfulness and humility are inexplicably intertwined. It’s hard to identify where one ends and the other begins. If your heart is struggling to be thankful begin with that which will never change and thank God for His character and promises. Thank God for who He is, His unceasing love, and great ability to save. Thank God that He is unchanging, reliable, patient, and kind. Thank Him for His sacrifice, His provision, His Word. Be thankful that God sees you in your struggles and has a purpose for them. Thank Him for the plan of salvation and the intimacy you now enjoy. He will make all things right. Only He is perfectly just, for God is Holy.
Praise Him for who He is and what He has done. You will be surprised at how your heart regains its courage, your mind its clarity, and your soul its good will when you focus on the one who loves you perfectly.
