Are we really ?

Are we really contented? Do we really trust and love Christ as much as we think we do? Do we trust Him enough?

When things do not go our way, and when things get tough on the daily, it seems to be a little harder to be positive and to just believe because we get so drowned by the misery of the moment. May it be material, may it be your job, your grades in school, and what not. I too am guilty of this: I experience days when my spirit is dry, and my heart is not full, and it's just a little tougher to trust in God. But these are the moments, that as a believer I should be hanging on more to him because He is my rock and my salvation after all right? Lately, it seems that God has been silent about things that I intended to do. I have been applying to another job, so I can kickstart my career, but I cannot seem to attain one at least. God has been silent, and I cannot understand why. I am in the season of dryness where in  I get so caught up with my school work, and not busy about the work of God. So one early morning, I sat down silently in class with my coffee, waiting for my professor, and out of no where I cried out to God. To help me to stir up more fire for Him, to help me trust Him more and Love him more. He answered: Wait, Come, See for yourself. I pondered on that long conversation with him, and He made me realize a lot of things, which brought me to writing this post. 

1. He is Sufficient.

Are we contented with what we have, or where we are. Sometimes we do not realize that we are not contented, that we want more earthly things. But as believers we have to realize that our fullness should come from Jesus. All these wants would fade, and would mean nothing without giving it up to Jesus. After all Jesus's love and grace should suffice us. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Says: "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness......'" We have to realize that Jesus is enough, and we have to keep telling ourselves that He.  I love how Jesus is perfect in every way, that even though we fall short of his glory, He loves us dearly enough to pick us up from the misery of everyday. Shouldn't that be enough? What more can we ask for? Jesus love overpowers our everyday worries and miseries. The wonderful thing about it is it is free. His love, His grace, and mercy is free. Shouldn't that be sufficient everyday? I am reminded of this everyday; even though there are times when it seems to be a little harder to be contented. 

 (READ PSALM 23).

2. He quenches our thirst

Thirst is a term that means dryness in the mouth, and throat due to the lack of fluid intake. So what our body does to replenish it is it secretes hormones such as Antidiuretic hormone, and angiotensin to retain water, and reduce the secretion of it. But how long can we survive without water? More importantly how long can we survive without living water? This reminds me of the Samaritan woman in the book of John, where she was trying to get water from the well but cannot seem to attain water since the well is too deep, and Jesus replied: "Everyone who Drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14). At the end of this encounter, the Samaritan woman recognized Jesus as the Messiah. You see sometimes we are like the samaritan woman who longed for the physical "water;" and yes I do agree that we need the physical water to reduce high blood pressure, and edema. Just like how we need some of the things in this earth to survive such as food, money to pay for bills, but more importantly, we need Jesus, and we have to realize that there is far more greater things than what we actually long for, and that is eternal life in him. We have to realize that Jesus wouldn't allow His children to thirst ever again. 

3. His plans are far more greater than yours (yes i needed to break grammar rules to emphasize that).

Sometimes things do not go our way, or he has not answered our prayers yet, or we're not where we intended to be. This can devastate us because we tend to be discontented with what we have, or the things that we may do have, or the status of our living is not "enough." Here's the thing, HIS PLANS ARE FAR MORE GREATER THAN YOURS! Sometimes yes it does not make sense why He is not giving it to us, or why he is making us wait. Isaiah 55 declares that God's thoughts are not our thoughts and neither our ways his ways. His plans are going to stand firm, and His purpose will be established because all He wants is the best for us even though the steps may be a little bit rocky. I am a living testimony to this. We have to realize that God has far more greater plans for you, and he wouldn't build it up to harm you but to stir up that faith, and for HIS GLORY! Jeremiah 29:11 Says "For I know that plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you,plans to give you hope and future." Isn't that amazing! how God's plans workout, and when it does it is unbelievable since we are undeserving of his grace. Sometimes your plans are not going your way, but HIS PLANS are PERFECT, His timing is PERFECT! He is an omnipotent God, He is the author and maker of our Faith, and Life, and HE KNOWS EVERY STEP HE PLANNED FOR YOU TO TAKE. DO YOU TRUST HIM then? 

4. We have to trust him and not worry

We just have to trust Jesus. Proverbs 3:5-6 says "trust in the Lord with all your hear and lean not on your own understanding, in all ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Im blown away because all we have to do is to trust him, and he will make our paths straight, he will establish our plans at his will. This is the beauty and simplicity of the gospel, that alot of people do not understand. God has remained faithful every way, and He would set everything aside for the "1" which is us. However do we trust him enough when storms come in? Sometimes it is easier said than done especially when we hit rock bottom or we are in a season of storm. This can be a test of faith, if we really do trust him enough. Sometimes and alot of times we do not that's why the storm may drown us. This reminds me from the book of Matthew when Jesus walked on water, and the disciples were terrified, but Jesus answered: "It is I do not be afraid." doubtful Peter still did not believe him and asked the Lord to order him to come to the water. Which Jesus replied "Come." Peter walked on the water and walked towards Jesus, but when he saw the strong winds he sank and asked the Lord to save him. Jesus said "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" There's a Peter in all of us, when things go wrong or when the storms of life may come. Our take away Here is that no matter how strong the winds may get we should not doubt, and focus on Jesus. He would not live you, and put things in your life that you cannot handle. Do you trust him with your finances? your grades? your family? you job? Yes circumstances can drown us, this life can try to eat us alive, but God is good that He would not allow anything to harm us. He would provide for you. Philippians 4:6-7 says : "Don't be anxious about anything, but pray about everything with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." We have to trust him and not worry about anything. He listens to you. While at it be joyful, and this is what was wonderful about Paul, yes he was a prisoner, but he found joy, and trusted Jesus enough that nothing else made him anxious, and that he found peace in Him.

5. Joy in expectation 

We have to patiently wait for the Lord, and be joyful.We have to be joyful inspite of circumstances that we think do not favor us. We have to joyful in spite of failures and disappointments. We have to be joyful in spite of times when it is hard to hold on. The letter of Paul to the Philippians to the Philippians shows us that Paul was a Prisoner, yet finds great joy and Delight in the Lord. Phil 1:19 -21 says For I know this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer, and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness as always so now also Christ be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Brothers and sisters this is a man who is joyful despite the death of his body, all that mattered to him is that God is glorified, and this is his spiritual preservation. He did not think of the hurt, the earthly sufferings, but he finds joy in suffering for Christ. You see the enemy can strike us with his lies, but he becomes powerless when we have JOY IN CHRIST, and Paul bares a really good example of this. I do pray that we may continue to find Joy in Christ in expectations, in tears, in pain, and trust him with everything we got.

6. JESUS LOVES US MORE

we do love Jesus, because He first loved us. But His love is far more greater and we cannot reciprocate that. God loves us so much that He gave His son Jesus for our eternity. HE WAS CRUCIFIED AND RESURRECTED for our sins. He left the kingdom to Love on US, and that we experience the fullness of the kingdom of God. His love is indescribable. Who are we to deserve this right? But He loves us so much! I cannot emphasize that further. 

God is faithful and good. Is that enough? Are we contented with that? I pray that we all may find peace, joy and trust in the Lord everyday.