*This post was originally written Dec 2020*
Many people are content with their lives...everything is great, life is rosy, the sun is shining, and all is well (or so it seems). However, what happens when suddenly the world a person lives in is not so perfect anymore? Chaos ensues. What we once thought we had control over is now controlling us and things are just a mess...contentment is completely thrown out the window. Yet, this happens to a lot of us. Life takes one wrong, unexpected turn and instead of using the GPS to re-route us, we're tempted to tear it out altogether and just drive the vehicle ourselves. Still, we end up making a bigger mess of things in our vain attempt to drive the car on our own than we would have had we just used the GPS in the first place.
In a similar way, this is the predicament I struggle with: do I use and trust God's all-wise & all-knowing GPS over my life or do I completely remove it from the equation and trust my own self judgment?
"Perfect Hailey" would like to say that she completely relies on God's GPS for her life and never questions His directions. However, the real Hailey has a very hard time with road rage and has had to back the bus up on multiple occasions just to take a breather from this highway called life.
Realistically, we all struggle with contentment. We may not live in the biggest house on the block, we may not be making the largest amount of money, we may be driving a piece of junk vehicle, or we may just not like the stage of life we are in. However, regardless of whatever "less than ideal" situation we find ourselves in... if we are operating under God's commands, then we are still under every obligation to submit to His will/ His plan for our lives... no matter the cost. If we are driving God's car, then it is our responsibility to take care of it. If we are using His G.P.S., then we can't afford to throw it out the window because God's plans far surpass and outweigh the plans we have for our lives.
But, how do we master the art of contentment?
We know we should trust God's GPS.
We know we should not rely on our own strength to get to the intended destination.
So, how do we come to terms with not having every piece of our life mapped out?
First, we have to acknowledge the One giving us directions. Turning down God's GPS or throwing it out altogether is really not a wise decision on our part. I mean sure, if you want to wreck the vehicle, run out of gas, or pop a few tires then just go ahead and ditch your GPS. However, if you want to arrive at the intended destination, the smartest thing to do would be to turn on Google Maps and use the GPS. In the same way, if you have a certain goal in life or desire of your heart, the best thing to do would be to acknowledge the Author/Creator of it. Who put that desire in you? Where did this desire come from? Who gave you the car? Whose vehicle are you operating under? In order to come to terms with God's terms, you kind of have to acknowledge the fact that they're there. There's really no other way around it.
Second, we have to trust that God's GPS is better than our own sense of direction. What I mean by that is we have to trust the One giving us directions. We have to trust the fact that He ultimately knows the end to every road we end up on, so even if we find ourselves on a desert road in the middle of nowhere, we have to trust that His GPS will not fail us even when we can't see the next turn. We have to trust that God is still in control despite when the directions He's giving us don't make sense at all. This proves to be a very difficult thing to do and a most definite trying of one's patience. Would you be content driving 45 mph behind a garbage truck on your way home when you could be cruising 75 mph on the freeway? Are you content with driving at a slower pace on a more difficult route than hightailing it on a straight stretch because your Heavenly Father has instructed you to do so?
These are the questions, I wrestle with daily (haha figuratively speaking). And as I think on this topic of godly contentment, I realize how hard it is to achieve at times. When you boil it down, the main issue becomes:
Are my Father's directions good, or do I know better than He does?
One thing that I think really hinders me from seeing God's directions as good is the present circumstance I find myself in. Sometimes, I don't feel like His directions are good because of external "road blocks." If God's directions for my life are good, then why am I having to circumnavigate these random bumps in the road? If God's leading is good, then why am I dealing with this? And, a lot of the times, we have zero control over the things life presents our way, but that is not to give us an excuse to just blame God for their occurrences. I mean that's about as senseless as cursing the GPS for leading you on a highway where all the drivers drive slow. You can't control at what speed other drivers are driving around you nor can you control whether the highway is toll free or not. So, are you really going to blame the GPS for the way another driver behaves? Or are you going to trust that the GPS's directions have not failed you and despite how others choose to listen to their GPS, they are not operating under the same vehicle God gave you. Don't get distracted by looking at how fast or how slow your fellow drivers are going. Pay attention to the speed limit to which your vehicle is set and trust that the One giving you directions is still good regardless of the minor "bumps in the road."
Third, we have to throw out our own directions entirely. And man does this just suck the fun out of even driving. Of course, we would love to get in our car and take off down the road... maybe hang a left here or turn right there...but we are not instructed to drive the car the way we think it should be driven. We are under the authority to drive the car in the owner's name. Whose title is that vehicle under? Who paid for it? Was it not our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ? The very same man who paid your debt and provided you with that vehicle, is the very same man who gave you instructions on how to operate it. Therefore, you would do well to listen to Him. And really, laying down our directions for Christ's is the least thing we could do in response to all He has done for us. So...chucking out our own selfish expectations really shouldn't be a problem.
BUT, when they are, when you are driving your vehicle and you want to go this way but God tells you to go another, what do You do?
Pull off the road and pray.
Tell the Lord about the dis-satisfaction you seem to be having. Talk to Him about the guy who passed you in the left lane. Tell the Lord how confused you were when the GPS said to take a right but you couldn't see how that would help shorten your E.T.A. Talk to God about how frustrated you were when you spent all day caring for your vehicle and lo and behold, four birds decided to give it a new paint job. Open your heart to Him and tell the Lord your frustrations. Scream into the steering wheel if you have to, but don't wreck your car! Talk to the owner of the vehicle. He may not choose to stop unfortunate things from happening; however, He will give you the grace, mercy, and peace to face those unfortunate circumstances head on. Just remember, the owner of the vehicle is still good regardless of those circumstances. His plans for your vehicle are far better than yours. His GPS system knows the end of every road on the face of the universe, so even if you do take a wrong turn, He will still be faithful to steer you on the right path if you let Him. Nothing comes as a surprise to Him. So, the next time you are struggling with contentment, ask God for help and He will give you the perfect roadside assistance.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Safe driving!
--Hailey Renee
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