Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Daily Devotional: The Key Ingredient
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. —Philippians 4:12
Paul shows us that contentment is something we must learn, just as much in times of prosperity as in times of trouble. Resting contentedly in God during prosperous times is often a challenge because it is during such times that we are most tempted to trust in ourselves or our circumstances rather than in God. But it is just as true that painful seasons of life can threaten to mar our contentment. Certainly for some of us trials and troubles are the times when we tend most to cling to God, but for others of us personal crises and the difficulties of daily life easily steal our peace and joy. Often that’s because trials of one sort or another tempt us to question God's goodness. If we allow our doubts to fester, we’re toying with unbelief. The writer to the Hebrews warned, “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.” (Heb. 3:12). Our unbelief turns us away from God, which, quite naturally, will rob us of comfort and contentment.
God is good and compassionate toward all people and all creatures he has made; however, when things go wrong, God’s true character isn’t always visible to us. That’s where trust comes in. The exercise of our faith means making a choice to believe God is who he says he is in the Bible, even when circumstances make him seem otherwise. Are we experiencing a painful trial or difficulty in our life? If so, we do well to turn away from any temptation to doubt the goodness of God. We can take him at his Word, claim his promises, and pray that he will make us very sure of his fatherly love. Contentment is sure to follow if only we will believe!
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