"But Godliness with Contentment is Great Gain"
1 Timothy 6:6
I am SLOWLY learning the power and meaning behind these words.
Ever since we moved back to Chicago I have been feeling a sense of meaninglessness and
wrestlessness. We were in a extremely "sweet spot" in Miami-doin ministry together, in school,
lots of family time, etc. We were able to work with youth and do what we absolutely loved.
It was a really special time for us as a couple-growing with one another and leaning on each other BIG time for support and encouragement. There was a part of me that felt as though it got torn away from us too soon. I struggled HARD with why God brought us down there to get a "taste of our dream" only to have to walk away from it.
BUT...
the other part of me knows deep down that the Lord knows BEST! He knows what we need, when we need it and there is a reason why He led us back to Chicago. There is a reason why we are back on the grind workin' hard, saving money, and paying off loans with busy days in this season of life. He is teaching us how to be faithful in the little things. He is teaching us about REAL life and REAL responsibility. He is teaching us how to be CONTENT no matter what our situation is and He is teaching us to TRUST that we are in a GOOD place right now. A place he wants us to be in.
Now it is our job to be faithful, grateful, and content, knowing that our Father has LOTS more to teach us. It is not a time to give up on my dream of full time youth ministry or further schooling, etc.
It's a time to work hard at my job, and to be a loving wife and mother to my husband and daughter.
Ministry is a part of life-everyday life. At least is SHOULD be- it's called being a Christian!
So for now, my ministry has shifted and changed to different things but it is still JUST as important.
There is something SO hard about contentment- being happy in my situation, but there is so much JOY in believing that I am a daughter of the King and I am in safe hands!
There is JOY in knowing that God has provided for my family and that we are happy and TOGETHER!
He never wants to withhold good things from his children.
And I am BLESSED BEYOND BELIEF!
I am SOSOSOSOSO thankful for our time in Miami. I wouldn't give that up for anything. I look back and smile so much at all the memories we made and all the crazy adventures and struggles God brought us through. I am thankful for the work that the Lord did in our marriage during those months-such pure times and unity beyond my expectations.
I'm thankful for days and days with Jonelle-to just be with her all day-irreplaceable times.
And I am thankful for the lessons that The Lord taught us about ourselves, our passions, weaknesses, and strengths.
My prayer is that we fall in love with this city while we are here (whether its for a few years or forever). I pray that the Lord would teach us how to become more like Him and to be his servant ALL times-even in the little tasks of daily life.
I pray that I would be a good example of a godly woman to Jonelle as she is getting older by the day.
I pray that we would have wisdom for the future and
patience to wait on the Lord.
"It is through the most difficult trials that God often brings the sweetest discoveries of HIMSELF.
God sometimes shuts the door and shuts us in,
That He may speak, perhaps through grief or pain,
And softly, heart to heart, above the din,
May tell some precious thought to us again"
-Streams in the Desert
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