Learning to be content can be tricky because, our natural instinct is to be impatient. We want things when we want them, how we want them, and the way we want them. However, more often than not things don’t happen that way, and we become frustrated. I’m as guilty as anyone else in this area, or shall I say I was, ok well, I’ll say I’m a work in progress. I love the Bible scripture in Philippians 4:12-13 to paraphrase, Paul simply says he has learned to be content in whatever state he is in, weather it be rich or poor, full or hungry because he says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” what that means to me is whatever situation I find myself there’s no need to complain or fuss because God has given me the strength to get through the storm or if I’m overflowing with abundance God will show me how to handle it as well.
I’m in a situation now where I have to put this into practice, and I would be dishonest if I were to say it’s not a hard place to be in, to completely trust God. I wrote a book about a year ago titled Revelation at Cliff House. I know God told me to write the book as a matter of fact I believe the book is anointed because of the comments I’ve gotten about how the book blessed their life. I was so excited for my accomplishment and the book sales were going strong for about 7 months. I had a couple radio interviews, some speaking engagements, I thought the momentum would last forever. Suddenly it all came to a screeching halt, no book sales, no interviews, no speaking engagements.
The devil had me questioning weather I had really heard from God and weather the book was really as good as I thought. I started to become depressed and started believing the lies the devil was telling me I took things personally and felt the people were rejecting me and my book. The Lord then reminded if he is for me who can be against me, he is on my side. Also, every success story began with a lot of rejection he then reminded me it doesn’t happen over night. One has to be prepared for success because if you are not prepared you won’t know what to do with it when it comes. Lastly God reminded me of Paul when he said he learned how to be content in whatever situation he was in and I, like Paul could do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Everything happens in Gods timing and when I think of the things God has brought me through in the past, it becomes easier to trust that he has the situation handled. Also when I’m walking in my purpose, what God has for me is for me meaning there is no door God opens that man can shut. So when someone tells me no or rejects my project or someone who said they would help me but did not do what they said they would, it’s because that’s not the door God opened for me to walk through and that’s not the person he sent to help. There are some things I know God told me about this book as it relates to my purpose and I know he will do what he says he will do no matter how long it takes. Keeping those things before me and meditating on what Paul says in that scripture helps me learn to be content in the situation and the space I’m in at this time.
Be Encouraged!
