Being Content

 

Are you happy where you are right now?

I have been around people before who were always talking about where they had been and wished they were there. They aren’t ever happy where they are.

I have been there and have been that person. In the past years I have tried to be more content with my life. Not wasting my days wishing I was somewhere else.

When I was in the military I was stationed in Greenland at a base inside of the Arctic Circle for a year. It was a terrible assignment. I immediately started counting down the days until I could leave. Today when I look back on that time, I wish I had appreciated my time there and the unique experience of being there.

We often have a problem with being content.

The Apostle Paul wrote about this in the book of Philippians. He wrote:

"...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

There's nothing wrong with wanting to improve or to have goals but sometimes we can't enjoy the now because we are constantly living ahead.

I have to remind myself that I need to be thankful for where I am now because where I am now was once something I was striving for.

We have all had days when we didn’t like where we were or what we were going through. Those are not good days to test us about being content; however, if we put our trust in God He will give us strength to endure until things change.

Things do change. Sometimes not fast enough but they do change. None of us can be any where or any place except the present. We should recognize where we are and learn to be content.

If God Doesn't Do It, It Won't Get Done

Have you ever had your back against the wall and saw no way out of a situation and even when you prayed, nothing changed?

I think we've all been there.

No plan B.  No safety net.  No control of the situation.

A couple of years ago I thought everything was fine.  I logged onto work as I had done for two years and by the end of the day I was without a job.  Never saw it coming.  I was blindsided.  Suddenly for the first time in my adult life I was unemployed.

I won't lie.  It hurt me bad.  It shook me.  I never saw it coming.

As you can imagine, my prayer life ramped up after that happened.  After taking 24 hours to recover from the shock I started looking for a job.  I had a lead and thought I was going to slide into it but the company kept delaying.  I prayed and thought it was God's will.  The waiting continued and my funds were soon running out.  I finally resigned that if God didn't do something that it wasn't going to get done.  I had to step out on faith over my anxiety of the situation.

When it looked like nothing was going to happen, suddenly something big happened. I was hired by another company for a better position with more money.  It was no coincidence.  It was God.  

We can pray and plead with God but we eventually have to leave it with Him.  We can't make God do anything.  He either does it or He doesn't.  And if He doesn't He's still doing something.  Just because God doesn't do it our way doesn't mean He's not doing anything.  Timing is often in God's plan for us.  The pressure is on God - not us when we pray.  We pray and leave the results to Him.  

There are times when we feel absolutely certain that we are praying God's will yet we see no results.  It appears that God isn't doing anything.  Those are the hardest - and most important times - to have faith.  Having faith in God when we see no results is one of the hardest things a believer can experience.

When God doesn't answer, we have to assume there is a reason.  God can do anything He wants to do when He wants to do it.  He doesn't need our permission or manipulative prayers to do it. Our prayers should not be able dictating outcomes or demanding instant results from God.  That's not how He works.  God is about building a relationship and aligning our desires with His will.  God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours and His timing is often different from our expectations.  Trust in God's timing and that it will work together for His purpose.  

Prayer only works when we put ourselves in alignment with God.  

When I was going through the time I lost my job and was desperately looking for another one, the song "Desert Road" was released by Casting Crowns.  Very timely for my situation.  The chorus in this song gave me strength through it.

I don't know where this is goin'
But I know who holds my hand
It's not the path I would've chosen
But I'll follow You to the end
Lord, as long as I am breathin'
I will make Your glory known
Even if it means I'm walkin'
On this desert road

My Mood Swings Are Making Me Dizzy

I have a confession. At times I can be moody.

I’m sure this is no surprise to people who know me.

So what does it mean to be moody?

A moody person experiences frequent and unpredictable changes in their emotions and behavior, often becoming angry or depressed without warning. They might be friendly one day and aloof the next, making them seem "hot" or "cold" to others. "Moody" is often used as shorthand for "unpredictable".

Several years ago when I was going through a background investigation for a security clearance, the investigator interviewed someone that knew me. I was stunned when I read the interview later. She told the investigator that I was a moody person and she never knew what mood I would be in. She also didn’t recommend me for a security clearance. I did get the clearance but what this person didn’t know was she was also a moody person herself and I wasn’t particularly fond of her.

As painful as it is to admit, my mood is something I have to constantly work on. My mood can change drastically and many times I don’t even realize the mood I am projecting.

Yeah, it’s annoying to be me sometimes.

Regrettably I have often been told that I am a moody person. It certainly isn’t anything I am proud of.

Can these mood swings be controlled? You would think so.

The most common thing a moody person is asked is “what’s wrong?” Honestly there are time I don’t even know what’s wrong or why I am in a mood.

If I were to examine what causes mood swings for me and others, these would be the reasons:

Physical pain
I can tell you that nothing affects my mood more than being in physical pain. When I am in pain, I want to get rid of the pain and I don’t want to have much interaction.

Climate
If the temperature isn’t right - especially if it’s too hot - my mood can take a turn for the worse. My mood is usually better in climate-controlled conditions.

Hangry
This is probably a common reason my mood can change especially if my blood sugar is getting low.

People
I try to get along with everyone but there are some which aren’t a good fit. Even when I try to like them, my mood can show through.

Anxious
When I am stressed or anxious about something my mood can get rather intense.

Unknown
Honestly there are times that I have no idea why my mood is changing. I have even asked myself why am I in a bad mood.

Let me be clear and say I am not excusing my moods I am just giving the reasons for them.

I am improving (though not cured) in identifying and correcting my moodiness. When I sense the mood swinging I take a moment and reset. Sometimes this works sometimes it doesn’t. It’s a work in progress. I still have to apologize a lot for my moods.

Thankfully I am glad I have people around me that know me and who know that I have these moments. I know I don’t make it easy on them. I am working on me which isn’t an easy task.

If you a have a moody person in your life, try to cut them some slack. Talk to them and try to find out why they are moody without arguing. Suggest ways the person can reset and refocus their mood.