Almost every morning I wake up early, grab a cup of coffee and my journal, and sit in my favorite chair for my quiet time. Before long, I see the sky turn beautiful shades of pink, purple, and orange peeking through the tree line of my backyard. I think to myself how blessed I am to have such a beautiful view!
Yesterday, just after enjoying the morning sunrise, I saw a post on social media taken from a city nearby that showed a picture of the morning’s sunrise. The colors were vibrant, the clouds were ethereal, and the whole sky was magnificent! It wasn’t like my view of the sunrise at all, this looked like a painting. I found myself wishing I could see that view instead and feeling a little robbed of the beauty they had seen that day.
Isn’t that how we are? We love what we have until we see what someone else has instead, then suddenly ours doesn’t seem good enough anymore. We want something bigger, better, prettier, newer… suddenly feeling what we have (or what we are) is no longer good enough.
The apostle Paul shared insight worth considering. While bound in chains and awaiting trial, Paul wrote a letter to the Philippians to thank them for their support and to share his joy: “I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:10-13
Even in chains and about to be persecuted, Paul felt joy and was blessed in the midst of his present circumstances. Do we do that? Do we praise in the midst of pain? Do we thank God in the midst of want or need? Are we happy with what we have been given instead of wanting more?
The situation with the sunrise bothered me because I had become discontented with something I had loved so much. While watching this morning’s sunrise, I asked God to change my heart about this so I could recapture the awe I had felt. He prompted me to step outside and scan the horizon. What I noticed left me speechless! The only part of the sunrise visible in my yard was what I saw through a small opening in the trees. From my favorite chair, God had aligned the perfect view! God wasn’t limiting my view of His majesty; He was giving me a special glimpse of something I normally would not see just to bless me!
The world is going to leave us longing and try to steal our peace. But when we choose contentment, we control the narrative! We can have peace in chaos, blessing in want, safety in trial. God meets us where we are and encourages us to lean into Him and trust His word. We choose what we believe and how we respond to it. Let’s choose to Be Blessed!
Jennifer
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” Psalm 23:1