Would you rather be working somewhere else? Would you rather be living somewhere else? Are you wishing your ministry was not this and more like that?
Are you praying “God, Anything. But. This!”
I know how you feel. Yes, Sister, I know. Sometimes life just doesn’t turn out the way you had planned.
Rewind, with me, back to 2008.
Everything was going as planned. I had my children. I was staying home doing the mom thing because I had quit work when I was pregnant. It wasn’t easy. In fact, it was WAY harder than I ever thought it would be. Yes, there were many, many days it was all I could do to survive. But it was what I always dreamed I would do.Everything was going great.
And then it wasn’t.
The week the triplets turned 1 year old, my husband lost his job. We had one 3 year old and three 1 year old babies. Say what?? For over a year, he applied for 90+ jobs. Try as he may, he was not able to land a one of them! We managed to survive. It was actually a huge blessing for both of us to be home with all those babies, but that’s another story for another day.
With little other options in 2009, my boss welcomed me back to my old position at work. In fact, she carved out a space for me so that I could work. So, I packed my lunch and headed off to school while my husband took over the mini-van, the diapers, and the sippy cups.
I went kicking and screaming the whole way. I was so mad and hurt and disappointed and frustrated…….and mad. Did I say I was mad?
Fast forward to about 2012. I’m doing my job, we are surviving, hubby is a great daddy. On the outside, I’m doing pretty good with my job. I do really like what I do, and I feel I’m pretty good at it. On the inside though, I’m whining and still stamping my foot when I pray to God. I wish I were doing something different….smh! Not only do I wish I were at home with the kids, but I still had other dreams I wished I were doing….dreams of music and ministry…doing ‘big things’ for God. But those dreams were not happening. I was doing my day job because that’s what my family needed me to do.
I realized it’s very likely that my circumstances were not going to change any time soon. But, the one thing I could change was my attitude about my circumstances. I decided I was going to be more thankful to God for where I was than to resent Him for where I was not. I decided to see my job as the ministry in which God had placed me for this season of life rather than pining away for the life I wish I had. I was going to recognize the HUGE blessings I had right before me
It didn’t happen immediately. It didn’t happen overnight. But slowly, ever so slowly, I began to appreciate the opportunities in my life. I began to thank Him for the blessings and provision He had given us. I began to enjoy this work where I was placed.
I had finally become content. I had finally learned to “love where I live”. Being content in and of itself is a gift because it brings peace.
Surprisingly, in the middle of my contentment, another unexpected turn. The opportunity to lead in ministry at my church became available to me. I wasn’t looking for it. I wasn’t trying to make it happen. I never thought I’d get to do something like this ever again. But it did, and I am so very, very thankful!
Learning to be content doesn’t mean you give up on dreams or desires. Contentment doesn’t mean you stop longing and praying. It doesn’t mean you give up. But contentment does mean choosing gratitude for your circumstances and trust in God’s Sovereignty for this season in life. While in the waiting and in the thanking and in the trusting, God, in His goodness, will often fulfill some of those other desires in the process in ways you wouldn’t have ever imagined!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understand. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” Prov 3:5-6
If you could some help examining your ministry, I’d LOVE to help. Try this *FREE* video Bible study course. In it, we discovered how to ReNew your relationship with God, your calling, your ministry, even your Sabbath rest! Sign up here: ReNew Bible Study
Love Where You Live,
~Amy