On Being Content

“How do you calm down your mind and heart of all the mundane daily things that somehow sap the energy and time when there is all this world to save, all this difference to make, all this stuff to do and become? How do you have the joy in all of this? It always feels like I’m not enough. I’m not doing enough or being enough for the tinies, for my husband, for my home, for my community, for my world, let alone for myself. I just never feel like I’m enough.”    
-Sarah Bessey

This article by Sarah Bessey in SheLoves Magazine struck a chord with me today. It described almost exactly how I am feeling in my current season of life.

I often feel like I am not doing enough. Or like what I am doing isn't making a difference. 
There aren't enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished. To find joy in the ordinary, mundane, messy, dirty, tedious everyday tasks I find before me proves to be a challenging feat most days.

At various points in my life I can remember thinking: "Oh I will feel better when..." or "If we could just get to his point then we can breathe and relax..". Do you ever feel that way?

Do you find yourself saying/thinking things like this:

I can be joyful/content when...

I find a spouse
I make more money
My husband gets a promotion
My kids are out of diapers
When my kids are out of the house
All my house projects are finished

It can go on and on right?

I struggle with being content right where I am. 

I find that I am always desiring something more than what I have and comparing myself to others all too often.

I love that this article reminded me to take a step back and BE STILL. God has me right here and now for a purpose. My identity is in him and that makes me enough. And it is in Him that I find my joy and it is made complete (John 15:11)- NOT in my circumstances.

Serving my family is hard work but it is what I am called to do right now and I want to do it with joy.

My hearts desire is to be content no matter what my circumstances look like (Philippians 4:11-13). To desire things that really matter. To serve my husband and child with an unselfish heart.

Friends, the world out there would have us believe we are always needing something more, to be in a different place than we find ourselves currently in. Let's challenge ourselves to be thankful for where we are and to be content with where God has placed us. To live with joy that is not dependent on circumstances. To remember that God has fully equipped us to do these good works we are doing right now (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

If you find yourself in current circumstances that are challenging, in any sort of way, my challenge to you (and myself!) is to look for what God is doing in your life right now. How you can be used in your current situation to be used for His glory. I am certain that he is speaking to us in ways we don't even realize if we can just relax, turn our eyes toward Him and listen.

For when, we press into him we come to knowledge of the truth. We are enough. His joy is our strength.

Nehemiah 8:10b (AMP)
 And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.

Question for readers:
What kinds of things do you do to keep a joyful attitude in your everyday life?