Surviving the Jungle
There are seasons of life where I fall asleep at night with anxiety and wake up over-concerned with what lies ahead for my day, week, or even years ahead. I get trapped by worry! I get stuck in what feels like a dark jungle of discontentment. You and I are bombarded daily with distractions, obstacles, and thieves that are dead set on robbing us of peace and contentment.
Life is often like living in a jungle. You don’t need fifty suggestions on how to survive. You need a few things to focus upon and move forward, one step at a time.
In Matthew 6, Jesus said these words:
“I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing
In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul writes this:
“I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.”
The anti-theses of worry and anxiety is contentment.
It’s a peace that surpasses circumstances.
It’s our greatest weapon as we find our way through the jungle and fog of anxiety.
Paul says, “I have learned to be content… Content in whatever circumstances I am.” Contentment that is unrelated to circumstances.
That. Sounds. Impossible.
The message that we hear all of the time is:
More stuff will make us content and free from worry…
Living in a different place, having a different job, being surrounded by different people, having a better environment, having a different partner, having freedom from problems, that is “the answer” that will bring in a life of utter bliss and happiness!
Discontentment is saying to God – “Thanks God, but I need MORE.”
“Thanks God, but it’s not enough.”
The apostle Paul offers us an incredible insight into how we can truly have a lasting contentment, amidst the legitimate concerns and responsibilities of our every day lives.
In Philippians 4, Paul writes this:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
70 times in the New Testament we are told:
Rejoice . . . rejoice . . . rejoice . . . rejoice, be happy, be joyful.
And it doesn’t have to do with your circumstances!
This reminds me that I am to practice this in my life and that I will never perfect it.
I think we all wish there was a secret button, bible verse, pill, or seminar that would give us unending peace and calm.
Paul says – fix your eyes on Jesus.
Rejoice in the Lord always.
He is good. He is faithful.
His plans have not failed.
Jesus said it clearly and succinctly:
Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Living one day, one hour, one minute at a time with you!
Ryan Snow
