Last Thursday night I wrote a poem titled, “Here not; somewhere else.“
It was around 11 pm, and I was tired, but I’d been inspired by a book
I’d just finished about Jim and Elisabeth Elliot. Among many other
journal entries and letter excerpts was a quote from Elisabeth that cut to my heart.
“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore it is a gift. Therefore it is a privilege. Therefore it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore it is to be done gladly, if it is done for him. Here not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.”
For me, those lines were wrought with conviction. Recently my attitude has not been fully pleasing to the Lord regarding my current life circumstances. Due to a few trying events, I have longed for what is beyond. I have not been satisfied. I have been discontent with who God has made me to be and what he has put before me to do.
That quote made me realize that I will never receive contentment until I accept Gods assignment for not only what will happen in my life, but for what is currently happening in my life. Here; not somewhere else.
As Paul writes in Philippians, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances…I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” (Phil. 4:11-12)
And what is that secret? He tells us in vs. 13…
“I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
The secret to perfect contentment, in every situation, is Him. Jesus. The author and finisher of our faith, our Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, and Friend.
Its not found in getting the ideal job, living in the ideal house, having the ideal body, traveling to desirable destinations, getting a college degree, getting married, having children, gaining mans approval…
Its in Jesus.
As I read that quote from Elisabeth Elliot, I was overwhelmed with conviction, and yet comfort too. I’d been looking for the secret to contentment when I’d had it the entire time. It wasn’t somewhere else, it was here. It was in my relationship with Jesus.
So I wrote my poem as a prayer of sorts. I want to be fully satisfied in the Lord. I want to trust him completely. I want to willingly and joyfully accept any task, any calling, or any circumstance he assigns me.
I want to find my security in Him.
I want to say as the psalmist said in Psalm 131
“Oh Lord, my heart is not proud, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. “
I want to be content here; not somewhere else.
