What is Your “One Thing” right now?
If you could only pray for ONE thing right now, what would it be? We all have SOMETHING. Come on, be honest with yourself.
What’s the one thing you feel is missing from your life and if you just had “x”, THEN your life would be “better”.
Maybe it’s a baby or to lose 10 pounds; meet new girlfriends or get promoted at work. Or maybe it’s a new career entirely or to finally meet the partner of your dreams…
Or you just wish you could find (or afford) a nice house for you and/or your family.
Whatever it is, we all have a prayer or something we really wish God would just GIVE us or DO for us because we *think* the other side of whatever that thing is will be better.
And maybe it will be. Wanting these things isn’t a bad thing – many of our desires are God-given.
The Problem is We Continue To Believe This lie
There is no ONE thing that will make our lives complete, yet we continue to believe the lie that if we just had “x”, then life would be better.
We forget that on the other side of our current “thing”, there will always be something else that we’re struggling with or longing for. This side of heaven, we will never truly be content or satisfied fully. And I think it’s liberating to realize and remind ourselves of this simple truth!
But (As Christians) Aren’t We Called To Be Content No Matter Our Circumstances?
In Philippians, Paul talks about being content in all circumstances. If you’re unfamiliar with the verse or need reminding (like I always do!), here’s what he said:
“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.”
Philippians 4:12
I’m sure he did feel that way, but I also think he had to fight for it every day.
I don’t think he climbed the “contentment mountain”, got to the top, and then camped out there forever.
Paul was human just like us. He had to choose to follow Jesus and remind himself of God’s truths every single day just like we do. It didn’t just happen and then POOF everything was easy and “content” from then on out. He said he “LEARNED” to be content. In other words, it was and still is a process.
It’s a continual fight to remember who we are, who God is, and what God did for us in Jesus.
There will always be some sort of struggle in our lives. Some seasons will be darker than others, but the fight for better/more/less/stronger/etc. is ever-present. And with each new struggle we face this side of heaven, we have an opportunity to surrender to our creator. It’s through our pain and longings that we can truly experience intimacy with the Lord because we come to him with a humble, hopeful and needy heart.
There is no one THING that will make our lives complete. BUT on this side of Heaven, we do have hope and can find a joy and peace that surpasses ALL understanding (Philippians 4:7) by replying on and finding contentment in the ONLY one who can make our lives complete.