By Grace Through Faith

To be perfectly honest with you, life really does not look how I wanted it to look during this stage of my life (which maybe we all feel that within our lives at times?!?)

I guess when we’re younger, we start setting expectations of how life may look for us at a certain age or when we reach a certain life stage. Or with the impact of social media, we see the highs of others, but we truly see the reality of our lives each day walking through it.

And maybe you see my life from the outside, thinking I have it going on, but it has been challenging lately for me to find contentment in the now. However, the Lord is continually working through me, sanctifying me, and guiding me to see His goodness, even when it does not look like the goodness I really want for the now.

I was watching the sunset the other evening, and when looking at it, I just acknowledge that it was pretty. I didn’t ask for it to be a different shade of gold or pink. I didn’t sit there and wonder why the Lord made it look the way it did. With a look, I acknowledged that it was beautiful, I acknowledged that it was created by the Lord, and I acknowledged that it was good. I may have seen hundreds of other sunsets that I deem prettier than it, but I did not discount the sunset for what it was in the moment. I walked outside with no expectation and thanked the Lord for the gift He provided with a beautiful view.

I have to do the same with my life. There are countless of good things to be grateful for in my life, that I take for granted very often. We all do it.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. – Philippians 4:11-12

We have to go through the highs and the lows to understand our need for our Savior. We have to go through the trials, the challenges, and the disappointments to learn from our God. To learn where our place is and where His place is in the kingdom. We are unworthy of every good thing He has given us. We all should be defeated by death due to our sin and our brokenness, but by His great love for us, He chose to have a relationship with each of us eternally.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

As someone who loves to set goals and to dream about life, I think goals are healthy to have. I think working towards goals and dreams are wonderful. What a gift in free will that we do have to choose how we want to live our lives.

But our desires and dreams can become dangerous for our hearts and souls when we start wanting full control in building “our kingdom”. We start to lose our humility and think more highly of ourselves in comparison to God when we want our plans to work out because we claim them “better”.

I can’t tell you why God does what He does. I can’t explain it and I can’t give you the understanding that He has. But I can tell you that He loves you more than you can possibly imagine. I can tell you that as a loving Father, this season that you’re walking through can be for your good and for His glory as you abide and turn your eyes to Him.

I can tell you that you have a choice in how to live. You can either complain and be disappointed in God for who He is and how your life looks. Or you can choose to find the good that is here and now, even if it isn’t what you expected. You can choose to trust the Lord, seek Him in all the things around you, and focus on what He is doing in the now. You can put your faith in Him who strengthens you.

It’s okay to practically acknowledge the “want” you have in your life. But also acknowledge the good despite your unmet expectation. Here are some examples to help:

• My body may not look how I want it to, but I am thankful for the health I have.
• I may not have many close friends living near me, but I am thankful for the gift of technology and being able to talk to them by phone.
• I may have to do some things independently at times, but I am thankful that God continues to comfort me and strengthens me in those daily tasks.

I pray this week that you and I can start to practically acknowledge the good and open our eyes to find joy in what the Lord is doing in the now.

With love,

Claire