SCRIPTURE: Philippians
4:11 (NIV)
I have learned to
be content whatever the circumstances.
STORY: as told by Carl
Sagan:
A story making the rounds concerns a Biology I examination
in which the students were asked: "Suppose you could take to Mars any of
the laboratory equipment used in this course. How would you determine if there
was life on Mars?" One student responded: "Ask the inhabitants. Even
a negative answer would be significant." The student got an A.
OBSERVATION:
Is there life in our living? Do we embrace the reality of
the day … or do we find something to complain about? We have all met the
individuals who dwell on what is wrong in life. They zero in on their pains and
aliments. They see life as half-empty. Missed opportunities. The pain of daily
living. If the sun is shining they ask for rain. If it rains they wonder why
the sun isn’t shining. Nothing is ever right.
There are two individuals who come to mind. Granted, both
have more than their fair share of physical problems and challenges, but it has
been mentioned more than once how negative they both are. As one loved one
recently shared, “I’m not sure if (his/her) physical pain is negatively
affecting (his/her) mental state or (his/her) mental state is negatively
affecting (his/her) physical state.” Could this be the “chicken-or-egg”
question of human existence?
Circumstances can control our human existence … if we allow
them to. Physical, emotional, and relational circumstances are very real. But
the observation of my family physician, as we discussed my career path, went
something like this: “How many people were sitting in the waiting room when you
were called back? 20? 30? 40? This one thing I know for sure better than 75 to
90 percent of them wouldn’t be here if they would simply get their relationship
with Jesus correct and allow faith to take control.” He went on to observe that
they are allowing life’s circumstances to negatively affect their physical and
emotional state.
Dr. Bernie Segal in, “Love,
Medicine and Miracles,” spoke of the power that the mind has over our
physical bodies. Paul made that spiritual connection as he wrote to one of the
churches. To be content, at peace, accepting of one’s circumstances is key to
our relationship with God through Jesus Christ ... regardless of the
circumstances.
Conclusion is this: We can either allow our circumstances to
control us or we can control our attitude about our circumstances based on
faith. If the circumstances are in control then we loose. If we control our
attitude about our circumstances then we are the victor. It is all up to us!
Both of the individuals mentioned earlier speak a great
faith game. One speaks about faith, a prayer life and can quote scripture with
much authority. The other has spent the last number of years preaching,
teaching and witnessing to a deep faith. But when confronted with difficult
life circumstances their faith has been found to be weak or non-existing. Their
negativity has compromised their witness.
I don’t know about you, but I have to fight the temptation
to pay homage to my physical and mental realities, giving in, being dragged
down, start to think negative about myself. Are you in the same boat? When I
find myself in this state of mind I take great comfort in the words of Paul
knowing full well that he had his “thorn” that he prayed long and hard to be rid
of, but finally came to the reality that he needed to come to peace with its
ongoing presence in his life … “content whatever the circumstances.”
PRAYER:
Lord, if our circumstances will not change then give us
contentment to live a life of victory in the middle of those circumstances.
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