I have always been in a hurry to grow up. As soon as I turned three and was ready to be four, when I turned four, I was ready to be five and so on. I have noticed that I am the same way as I am progressing through my teen years. I am always anxious to be older. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be older but, the problem is when I desire it too much. I am always so fixed on what is in the future that I don’t live with where God has placed me now.

My dream, Lord willing, is to get married to a godly man and have a family. The same thing applies here. There is nothing wrong with wanting to get married and have a family but, it’s when I desire it too much. Have you ever felt as if life will not go on if you don’t get married? I have! I look forward to getting married someday. But, I need to live to glorify God at where I am at now!

God, in His sovereign goodness, has not ordained for everyone to get married. He has given many, the responsibility of singleness, for some, several years, for others, decades, and some are single their entire life.

So now it comes to the application. “How can I live today and trust God for what his plans are for the future”? First, how can I live for today? I think we need to evaluate what God has called us to do at this present time. For myself, right now my responsibilities are: doing school, caring and being examples for my younger siblings, helping in my family, and serving and being a part in my church. Depending on your age, your responsibilities will be different. Whatever it is, this is our responsibility and calling at our present age. So lets work hard at these things for the glory of God.

Secondly, How can I trust God for the future? Prayer! Pray and ask God to help you trust him for his timing in everything. He may not answer in the way in which we expect but, He loves us and he does nothing that is not for our good! Another way is get to know the character of God. As you learn about the character of God, you will know why you can trust him.

“For we are His workmanship, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in him.” -Ephesians 2: 10 (ESV)

I often tend to compare myself to others. Whether that would be in body image, popularity standing, nicer clothing, personality, or even godly character that someone has that I desire so much that it becomes an idol. All of these things have been true in my life and continue to be although I am being gradually sanctified in the process.

At a recent, small group meeting, my dad shared on this sin and how “comparing is evil”. Now please don’t take this as saying that comparing is the worst sin. All sin is equal and each sin has a different consequence for it. But, I do think it is important to highlight that my dad is right! It doesn’t take much to let comparison overtake your life.  This sin is a matter of questioning why God has made me WHO, HOW, and WHY I am! It is a deeper issue, a issue of the heart. I am desiring at that moment to be someone other then the person that God has created me to be. This is the way that my sinful heart has a tendency to lead towards.

So, how can we be content with who God has made us to be? By remembering the words that God spoke to us though the prophets over many years.

” For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139: 13-14

Look again at the verse that I put on the top of this post. We are created to bring God glory though the good works we do.

Beware of legalism in this area, as it is easy to get snatched into! We are forgiven not because of this “good works” or anything that we did or do. We are forgiven because God sent his one and only son Jesus to die and bear the penalty of our sins on the cross!

If we are focused on being someone else then we are not being who God created us to be and that DOESN’T bring him glory! In fact, when we compare, we rob God of the glory that He deserves. God planned our creation before THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD! God made us who we are for a reason and purpose.

This is a large challenge to myself as I fight legalism and the sin of comparison! Please join me as I continue to look at the motive behind this sin that is in my heart.

May God give each and everyone of us grace as we live to be content and trust in who God created us to be!

Have you ever felt as if you need to compare yourselves with others? Maybe you question why God has you where you are and wonder when this will change? Do you wonder if you will ever truly be satisfied with what you have because you can’t leave a store without purchasing something?

I have been there and continually still struggle in this area. In fact, I have come to realize that the area of contentment is battle in which I always find myself in. In the past weeks, I have felt God leading me to talk about this issue because it is such a large part of my life and that desire has been confirmed by various conversations! So in the near future, I will have three posts on contentment and the fruit and joy it brings to free us to serve God who and as we are. The posts will be entitled: Being Content with who I am, Being Content with where I am, and finally Being Content with what I have.

As an encouragement, please listen to the words in which Timothy wrote:

Wow, that is motivation for me! When we are content, we gain godliness and an understanding of God! So please join me as I evaluate my heart in this area.