Happy Friday! This morning my husband and I were talking about this bitter cold and snowy weather that we have had for the last couple of months. I was saying how it was starting to get old, with the bitter temps, the closing or late starts of schools and having to go outside and deal with it. Because of the type of work that he does; he has to gear his self up mentally to be ready for the day. He was saying, "I'm just going to be content and thank the Lord for the weather." For me, I was like, "I'm tired of it!"
It can be challenging at times to be content with something or during a particular season, especially if that season comes with hardship and it has lasted awhile. I have learned that if you are not careful, you can confused contentment with depression. When a situation has reached it's highest depth and there has not been any change or release, and it has taken a toll on you emotionally, physically, and mentally; during this state, you retreat and you now just go to a place of defeat. And, we coach ourselves into thinking that we are content, when really, we have nothing left in us to fight with. I can remember a time, in the beginning of our marriage, my husband and I were experiencing financial hardship. The wind was blowing so much our way. Our home was facing foreclosure, we were expecting our 2nd child, and we had no idea where we were going to live. We needed a miracle. I was dealing with the majority of the financially woes and my husband was flowing on a one-track mind ... work, work, work! It was a heavy season. On top being hormonal and big, because I was in my last month of my last trimester; I was an emotional wreck. I couldn't afford to take the time to consider my feelings, because everything was on a time crunch. We needed to sell our home and we needed to sell it quick. I was getting discouraged. We would have an offer on the table and then it would fall through. We would have a showing and then they would cancel. I was out of hope.
I could remember sitting in my room just casually talking to the Lord. Saying to him, "Lord, I know we have made some mistakes, I know we have not been good stewards." Early in my salvation, I learned that, before you go to the Lord, you should come in a spirit of repentance and humility. So, I didn't want to go before him with this sob story that displayed me as a victim. I went on to ask him for his help and guidance. I told him how his word says, he would not leave us or forsake us. As if he needed any reminding of this. I needed his strength to pull through. I remember getting up and telling myself, this to shall pass and the Lord will provide. A couple of days had gone by and I had not done anything else with the house. We needed a new plan, better direction. There were other houses on our street that were selling - families were moving. Our neighbors would even come to us and say, I don't understand why your house is not selling ... neither did we. But, I knew, I had humbled myself before the Lord and asked for his guidance. I can remember, the day when my husband came home and said, "hey, so-and-so house just sold!" And I just said to myself, you know what, I'm not going to get angry, I am not going to question God. I just kept saying he will not leave us or forsake us.
We were working with a new realtor by this time. She was saved and living her life for God. During the process she would call me and just encourage me in the Lord. She even shared our situation with her church and they went on a fast and continued to pray and be in agreement for a miracle for us. She wasn't just there to sell our home, the Lord used her for HIS Glory. She worked day after day, looking and finding ways to get our home sold.
You see, after the depression and after recognizing that we couldn't weather this storm alone, and we needed the Lord's help. I began to settle within me, that, there was going to be a way out of no way. Some how and some way, the Lord would provide. I had to get to a place where I was content in this situation. Content that knowing something was going to happen. Even if that meant, we would foreclose and have to deal with the damage of our credit later. I would be satisfied with it all just being over. I would not be disturbed by our failure, but recognize that, God makes way for new opportunities. We were having a baby, and the only thing that our son needed to experience when he came into the world, was, the embrace of 2 parents who loved him and was excited for his arrival. It was time to be like Peter, and be content in the state we were in, Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in respect to want, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Yes, I still desired a miracle for our situation. Contentment doesn't mean you stop believing for better. But, I was content in knowing that, whatever the outcome was going to be, it would be the right one, and the Lord was with us.
We received an offer on the house. We were 2 weeks out from sheriff sale. Everything needed to line up and not fall apart or have any loopholes. The deal was written for an 'as is' sale with no profits returning to us. Our realtor had gotten our mortgage company to agree to a "short sale" and we would not be responsible for the remaining balance ... God was moving! 24 hours before sheriff sale, because when you are facing foreclosure, the process does not stop until a payment is made. We closed the sale. Also, during this 2 week roller-coaster. We received a call of approval for an apartment, after being denied by some many others because of our credit at the time. The Lord didn't forsake us! When our baby arrived, we brought him to an apartment that was not decorated with depression, anger, or turmoil. But with peace!
I will never forget this time in our lives. A time when the Lord showed his strength and love to us. A time, when I choose to be content, and NOT angry. A time, when I humbled myself and rejoiced for others, even when my situation appeared with no hope. See, when you are able to get to a place of contentment, you find yourself being able to do things that you never thought you would or could do. I would have never thought to be happy for someone else when things were not good for me. But God gave me the strength that I needed and sent people in our lives to help hold us up. HE did not leave us nor forsake us!!!
In whatever state or situation you are in, be content. Don't stop hoping for better, but be content in knowing that the Lord is on your side. HE doesn't promise that there will not be any hardship, but HE does promise the Grace and strength to endure it.
Remember, surrender all ...
Tynisha
It can be challenging at times to be content with something or during a particular season, especially if that season comes with hardship and it has lasted awhile. I have learned that if you are not careful, you can confused contentment with depression. When a situation has reached it's highest depth and there has not been any change or release, and it has taken a toll on you emotionally, physically, and mentally; during this state, you retreat and you now just go to a place of defeat. And, we coach ourselves into thinking that we are content, when really, we have nothing left in us to fight with. I can remember a time, in the beginning of our marriage, my husband and I were experiencing financial hardship. The wind was blowing so much our way. Our home was facing foreclosure, we were expecting our 2nd child, and we had no idea where we were going to live. We needed a miracle. I was dealing with the majority of the financially woes and my husband was flowing on a one-track mind ... work, work, work! It was a heavy season. On top being hormonal and big, because I was in my last month of my last trimester; I was an emotional wreck. I couldn't afford to take the time to consider my feelings, because everything was on a time crunch. We needed to sell our home and we needed to sell it quick. I was getting discouraged. We would have an offer on the table and then it would fall through. We would have a showing and then they would cancel. I was out of hope.
I could remember sitting in my room just casually talking to the Lord. Saying to him, "Lord, I know we have made some mistakes, I know we have not been good stewards." Early in my salvation, I learned that, before you go to the Lord, you should come in a spirit of repentance and humility. So, I didn't want to go before him with this sob story that displayed me as a victim. I went on to ask him for his help and guidance. I told him how his word says, he would not leave us or forsake us. As if he needed any reminding of this. I needed his strength to pull through. I remember getting up and telling myself, this to shall pass and the Lord will provide. A couple of days had gone by and I had not done anything else with the house. We needed a new plan, better direction. There were other houses on our street that were selling - families were moving. Our neighbors would even come to us and say, I don't understand why your house is not selling ... neither did we. But, I knew, I had humbled myself before the Lord and asked for his guidance. I can remember, the day when my husband came home and said, "hey, so-and-so house just sold!" And I just said to myself, you know what, I'm not going to get angry, I am not going to question God. I just kept saying he will not leave us or forsake us.
We were working with a new realtor by this time. She was saved and living her life for God. During the process she would call me and just encourage me in the Lord. She even shared our situation with her church and they went on a fast and continued to pray and be in agreement for a miracle for us. She wasn't just there to sell our home, the Lord used her for HIS Glory. She worked day after day, looking and finding ways to get our home sold.
You see, after the depression and after recognizing that we couldn't weather this storm alone, and we needed the Lord's help. I began to settle within me, that, there was going to be a way out of no way. Some how and some way, the Lord would provide. I had to get to a place where I was content in this situation. Content that knowing something was going to happen. Even if that meant, we would foreclose and have to deal with the damage of our credit later. I would be satisfied with it all just being over. I would not be disturbed by our failure, but recognize that, God makes way for new opportunities. We were having a baby, and the only thing that our son needed to experience when he came into the world, was, the embrace of 2 parents who loved him and was excited for his arrival. It was time to be like Peter, and be content in the state we were in, Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in respect to want, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Yes, I still desired a miracle for our situation. Contentment doesn't mean you stop believing for better. But, I was content in knowing that, whatever the outcome was going to be, it would be the right one, and the Lord was with us.
We received an offer on the house. We were 2 weeks out from sheriff sale. Everything needed to line up and not fall apart or have any loopholes. The deal was written for an 'as is' sale with no profits returning to us. Our realtor had gotten our mortgage company to agree to a "short sale" and we would not be responsible for the remaining balance ... God was moving! 24 hours before sheriff sale, because when you are facing foreclosure, the process does not stop until a payment is made. We closed the sale. Also, during this 2 week roller-coaster. We received a call of approval for an apartment, after being denied by some many others because of our credit at the time. The Lord didn't forsake us! When our baby arrived, we brought him to an apartment that was not decorated with depression, anger, or turmoil. But with peace!
I will never forget this time in our lives. A time when the Lord showed his strength and love to us. A time, when I choose to be content, and NOT angry. A time, when I humbled myself and rejoiced for others, even when my situation appeared with no hope. See, when you are able to get to a place of contentment, you find yourself being able to do things that you never thought you would or could do. I would have never thought to be happy for someone else when things were not good for me. But God gave me the strength that I needed and sent people in our lives to help hold us up. HE did not leave us nor forsake us!!!
In whatever state or situation you are in, be content. Don't stop hoping for better, but be content in knowing that the Lord is on your side. HE doesn't promise that there will not be any hardship, but HE does promise the Grace and strength to endure it.
Remember, surrender all ...
Tynisha
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