Contentment & Joy in God's Plan for Our Lives

"Waiting on the Lord" Series

by Amy
from Virtuous Daughters, June 2016~Volume 16, Number 3

In this world that we live, society screams out that we are to be given what we think will make us happy now. There is no thought of waiting until the time is right, until you have enough money saved, or until the Lord brings it to pass. We must help out. The flesh desires and wants it now. There is no encouragement in anything to be content where you are and wait. This life misses out on the blessings we have, worrying about what the future holds. "But godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6)

As I look back on my life and reflect upon the path the Lord has led me to walk, there have been many times of joy and contentment in the Lord, but also times of discouragement and impatience. The times I have been the happiest are the times I have realized that true contentment and joy can only come from my satisfaction and happiness being in Christ—my fulfillment being in Him. I was placed here to be in fellowship with Him. Anything else that comes my way is an added blessing.
 
I was raised from an early age that my purpose in life was to serve the Lord, but also it was to marry and to be a wife and mother. As I neared graduation, I started thinking, "Well, now the Lord will send me a husband." As the years rolled by and no one suitable came along, and my friends were marrying, I started thinking, "What is wrong with me? Why is no one coming for me?" These were times of great discouragement, but the Lord reassured me that He was in control and that He "knew the desires of my heart" (Psalm 37:4). Amy Carmichael said, "Sometimes the answer is not 'no,' but 'wait.'" I realized I needed to "rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." (Psalm 37:7a) I began seeing I needed to "seek the Lord with my whole heart." Absolute surrender for Christ to reign in me was the only way I would be content.
 
It would mean dying to all that I desired and wanted, but really that is the only way to live a life of real joy in the Lord. The joys and pleasures this life offers apart from God are but for a season. Only the things that are done in obedience to Christ are eternal. I had to come to realize that Jesus was all I needed. The flesh is never satisfied. If I could not be content with what the Lord had given me now, what made me think I would be satisfied with the next phase in life? I had to come to realize I must leave everything to Him. Who else more had my best interest in life?

Leave it to Me, Child, leave it to Me,
Dearer thy garden
to Me than to thee.
Lift up thy heart, Child,
lift up thine eyes.
Nought can defeat Me,
and nought can surprise.
 
Leave it to Me, Child, leave it to Me,
Trust in the wall of fire,
look up and see.
Stars in their courses shine
through the night,
Both are alike to Me--
darkness and light.
 
Leave it to Me, Child, leave it to Me,
Let slip thy burden too heavy for thee.
That which I will,
My hand shall perform,
Fair are the lilies
that weather the storm.
~Amy Carmichael
 
So much in life is dependent on our "trusting the Lord with all our hearts and leaning not on our own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). The valleys can be very dark at times, the path rugged and steep, but O what beauty there is when we come to the mountain peak. The Lord is just waiting for us to meet Him and to allow Him to carry our burdens. We need to realize that Jesus is enough.
 
May I encourage you to rest in the Lord. Seek Him with your whole heart. Allow Him to make His desires your own. The joy that comes from knowing Jesus exceeds all else.
 
I would like to close with the following quote:

​"If you love God and fully trust Him, the place in which you are is the happiest place in which you can possibly be; and the work you are doing is the very best for you. Of course, God may move you elsewhere or give you other work. That can be left to Him. But let Him be glorified in us now."~an unknown Christian