I feel like this week has been a bit of a redemption for me from last week. It's not solely because better things happened, but because my perspective has shifted. A lot of thoughts have been rolling around in my head, and God has been speaking to me constantly all week about my happiness and contentedness with what He's given me. He knows me better than I do, so in response to my questioning and my self-pity He started asking me some hard questions.
It may seem somewhat cliche, but the point that was driven home to me was that you can't be happy until you are happy with what you have. We've all heard that one. What that means to me is that nothing, NOTHING that is added or taken away from your life right this moment will make you happy. We dream about certain things happening to us, things that we pray constantly for, that if we just get that ONE thing we can be happy. I have certainly said this to God on many occasions.
He answered me by saying until I am content right here, right now, with what I have happiness doesn't exist.
I am where I am for a reason. God is always on time. If I am in a season, it is for a purpose, and I shouldn't take for granted that the reason things are the way they are is because He is teaching me something. He is working all this for His purpose, not mine.
Matt Chandler said in one of his sermons that "Happiness is a cheap, cheap substitute for Joy".
Joy is knowing that something better is on the way. Joy is having the hope of Christ for all eternity, and knowing that while we do get great things here, it's not where our Joy rests.
So, in saying all of this, I have had a great week:
-crazy busy work days
-"miscellaneous" work days
-people coming out of the woodwork to buy groceries
-superheroes at children's church
-being myself
-living in a country where I am free
-watching crazy thunderstorms
-believing in the One who makes me truly free
-setting off fireworks
-cooking dinner with good friends
-watching dumb shows
-the Farmer's market
-shopping with good friends
-bread
-weird fruits and veggies
-people from other nationalities
-long car rides and good conversation
-hot wings
-peach milkshakes
-skip bo
-browsing books
-sleeping in
-productivity
-90's music
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