Contentment

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Life is full of seasons. Things constantly change, whether it’s a new job, a new church, new friends, or a change in the way we do things. I’ve learned that some good things only last for a short while. It makes me wonder, do we enjoy every season of our life as much as we possibly can? Or do we instead, dream of what we want in the future, or long for the past?

God sends these changes for a reason. I believe we should live our best in the season we are in and soak up every moment. If we are constantly longing for and reliving memories of the past or dreaming about our future, we will miss the present blessings. Yes, it is good to relive fond memories and dream a little, but there is a certain point where it needs to stop. If we are constantly wishing we were back at our old church, it may prevent us from being blessed at where God has us now. Or if all we do is long to be married to the man of our dream, we may not see what God wants us to do while we are single.

J. O. Fraser put it all into perspective very well. “Have we any right to be so dissatisfied with our present condition, which God has ordained for us, that we should hanker after something in the future? I can hardly see that we have.” When you think of it as God ordained then it does seem wrong to wish for something better. Even though it is so hard sometimes not to let your mind wander, it can be done. Maybe it would be easier if we all keep Paul as our example. He said in Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” That should be our goal.