In Season

It's ironic how often we find ourselves in one season of life wishing we were in another. Then we get to another season in life and wish we had our old one or a different one. You have parents with kids that sometimes wish they were able to be alone with each other. Then when they are empty-nesters, they wish they had children at home again. You have students hating to go to classes and wishing they had real jobs but when they are in the real world they wish they could go back to school (lets be honest, college was fun). You have days at work when you wish you had less to do but then you get upset that you don't have better opportunities when your season of work is not pressing. The list goes on...each of you have had times of wishing you were in another season of your life. I wonder how many blessings we miss because we aren't focused on the opportunities that God has placed right in front of us now.

I have found myself pondering these thoughts before and it brings up this question...Are we really content and focused on growing in the season God has placed us in?

Paul said in Philippians 4:10-13 (while in prison) that he has learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. The fact is, the secret to being content is to know that through Christ I have and can do all things. Being content is something that is learned. You have to teach yourself to be content in any and every situation. That doesn't mean it will be easy or something that will just happen overnight. You have to constantly remind yourself about being content with the things that God has blessed you with. The Christian walk is a daily battle. That is why in Luke 9:23 God commands that His followers must pick up their cross daily. That is why in 1 Corinthians and Romans, Paul explains the importance of dying to your selfish and earthly desires daily in order to stay pure. Being content is a battle and until you make your desires submit to the authority of Christ, you will always find yourself in one season, wishing for another, missing out on what God has in store for you now. You'll find yourself always wanting more and missing opportunities to bless others. Hebrews 13:5 says be content with what you have because God said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Take some time to meditate on that, and let today be the day you start to train your heart to be content in any and every situation.