Jesus, another week is here. I'm entering this one with a lot of peace, and for that I am grateful.
But I'm quite often struck by how unattainable Paul's admonition to be content in all circumstances seems. If I am honest, my level of contentment always mirrors my circumstances. I don't believe I am a reed blowing in the wind, but sometimes the winds blow, and the rains fall, and my house seems to be one at least partially built on sand.
I had an interesting conversation about faith and trust yesterday with a friend. One of his thoughts is that the feelings we have when following your will, and living in a trusting faith, are feelings of vulnerability, uncertainty, uneasiness and, to probably put a word in his mouth, fear. If that's the case I've been in your will all my life!
But his point - the one I think underlies his premise - is that doing your will always leaves at least one wedge in the Trivial Pursuit game piece empty, and it's a wedge that has to come from you. I can't answer the right question and fill it. If I could, there would be no need for you - or dependency upon you - required.
It's why John records you as saying that we - as the branches - must abide in you - as the Vine.
"Apart from me you can do nothing" is a strong statement, and one about which my hackles always rise. (It would have been helpful if John had recorded you saying in the next breath, "...because only I can fill that last wedge").
The authentic Christian life is not one of peace in the calm, but peace in the chaos, and peace amid the questions, and peace in the calling we each receive. And, out of each of those singly - and all of them collectively - we find contentment that comes only from our trust being met with your grace.
From the mouths of babes, I suppose...
Hear my prayer today. Grow my faith and trust. Let me find contentment by turning my eyes away from my circumstances and on to you today.
Amen.
