Chapters of My Life: Let That Be Enough

     I am sitting outside, listening to the sound of rain and wind cascading among the trees. I love North Carolina. I love the sounds, the sights, and yes, even the smells. There is a peacefulness in the rain and a hopefulness in the sounds of the city all around. (Not a fan of the traffic, I admit- but I do love the city!)

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     I have been to very few cities that can balance nature/country life and city life so well like they do here in North Carolina. Even in my backyard, the sound of country and city; life all around. I really do like this life I am living. Every day I am finding a blessing in the midst of it, and it brings peace to my heart. I am understanding a little deeper today by what He means when  He commands me to "Be Content".  I am learning who I am in Him and that is what brings me His peace.
    Psalm 18 has been a constant encouragement to me since the Lord had me read it the other day. It has blessed me over and over again. If you remember from a few chapters past, I talked about learning to "Be Content", and that the Lord was showing me how I only needed to depend on Him. I needed to have faith that He would come through for me. 
     One of the definitions of contentment that keeps sticking out at me is the one that means to be satisfied. Do we really know what it means to be satisfied? I guess you could say that it means to stop looking for a quicker way to get to what you want and rest in the knowledge that you are right where you belong.
     No one knew what it meant to wait like David did! He wrote over half the Psalms and more than a few of them remind us to "Wait on the Lord". Being content is knowing that right now, at this very moment, you are right where you belong. That my friend is a glorious thought!
     The lessons He wants to teach you are eternal; they can never be taken away, and they are waiting for you- every promise He has ever made to you, just Hold On and Wait upon the Lord. You my dear one, are right where you belong. 
     So why then do I find myself, a lump of dirty clay, questioning the hands of my Potter' my God who Created me and is molding me into a beautiful vessel of glory? Why am I struggling against the pressures of His touch and the burning of the furnace?
      How do I question Him? I question Him with my worry. The moment my faith waivers, the moment my flesh is tempted, I start to worry whether or not my God will come through for me. No one else ever has. I have always been left standing; empty handed, hurt and scared. What guarantee do I have that He will not do the same?

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     But God, who is rich in Mercy says to each one of us, "You can trust me." Look at His Love, He sacrificed His Only Son, you can trust Him- He kept all His promises and will keep every single one to you too. Trust Him. Believe Him, and Follow Him. Let that be enough.
     I have to believe that no matter what my circumstances are, no matter what my bank balance says, or if my flesh craves food from hunger- no matter what situation I find myself in; I can be confident that my God "will supply every need of {mine} according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19 ESV)  I have to believe that my God fights for me. He has never failed me; and He never will. 
      No matter how long it takes, I am going to believe and trust that I am right where I need to be. This storm I am going through can only end up one of two ways. I am either going to sink, or I am going to keep my eyes on Jesus and walk across these stormy seas, into His loving arms. Or, better yet, He is going to part the waters and I will walk right through them on solid ground. I think I will choose the latter of the two- how about you? 
     We can conquer the sin of worry. We can win this battle, stronger and more powerful than we were before. So when the next storm comes up, we are ready, prepared and know we will win. Why? Because if God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31 KJV). 

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." 2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV

     Keep walking and keep believing. Your God is fighting battles you will never know about to bring you safely home. So sit back, enjoy the sounds, the sights and the seasons of every passing storm. He has you right where you belong. Trust Him. Be Content, and let that be enough. 
     Just as God promised David He would defeat all His enemies (which He did), the same promise is yours if you would just believe. I know that the storm I am in sucks right now! It is hard to get up every day and have to put my armor back on. That is why I find myself worrying over the dumbest things, the littlest things, all the while forgetting that my God has yet to break a promise to me. 
       No matter the trial, no matter the temptation- you can trust Him; you can take Him at His Word. David wrote Psalm 18 on the day God defeated all of David's enemies, even Saul. They were all gone. God fulfilled His promise to David, and David pours out a Psalm. 
      David starts out with proclaiming that the Lord is his strength, his rock, his fortress- His only true place of safety. David then writes the account of how God did it- how God went to war for him. David praises, prays and gives glory to God for the defeat of his enemies, and the promise to be the king. David knew it came only by God and no other. 

     "For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him." Psalm 18:28-30 ESV

     You see, you can trust Him; and that peaceful life you seek, it will take root and you will begin to become who you were created to be. You will become more content, more at peace, no matter the situation, no matter the circumstances; no matter how scared you may be. You can take a deep breath, and breath in the promise of His word, that He will defeat all your enemies. If you only believe. 

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     I pray the Lord God would bless your heart through these humble words, and I pray the Lord to make fall away anything that does not glorify Him. I pray that He would give increase to any seeds that have been planted, and that they would take root in a heart of faith. May your heart be strengthened and encouraged to never give up, no matter the cost. Let that be enough. To Him be the glory now and forever. Amen. 

 "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 KJV