Friday, August 26, 2011

very content this evening

I am very content sitting here on my deck this evening.  It is very easy in contentment to become unaware of those suffering not so far away.

I think of those in the path of the hurricane right now.  How different their evening is from mine, and their coming weeks and even months will be.  Contentment will not be a part of their vocabulary for a long time to come.  Survival may be their mode of operation instead.

I am very content sitting here on my deck this evening.  It is very easy in contentment to become unaware of those suffering not so far away.

Two days ago I got to spend some time with a friend who I had not seen for several months.  In that time he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.  I was unaware of his medical battle.  He will have surgery very soon and I have now committed to holding him up to the Lord in prayer - asking for his health to be restored. Although his faith runs deep, he is not content this evening.  He is anxious and hopeful and trying to rest in the assurance the Lord brings to each of us when we cry out for Him.

I am very content sitting here on my deck this evening.  It is very easy in contentment to become unaware of those suffering not so far away.

I have a friend who was recently let go from his job.  He has children and a wife at home.  He is not content tonight.  He is burdened by the responsibility of caring for a family without income.  He wonders why His Lord would allow such a struggle to be part of his life.  He sleeps little and worries and prays continuously while trying to encourage his young family that he'll find something soon, that this is God's will right now.  He tries hard to believe his own words.

I am very content sitting here on my deck this evening...but I am very aware of those around me struggling in ways I may never experience.  I love them all and I feel their pain, and in my contentment  tonight - I lift them to the thrown of my God and beg for their healing and provision.

My struggle will come on another evening I am sure, and then this evening of contentment will rise as a reminder that God is good and hard things are used to teach me what contentment never could.




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