Be content

It seems that this time of year is tough for a lot of people. It wasn't until I worked in home care with people in poverty that I even thought of Christmas as a difficult time of year. I have always enjoyed Christmas, and as a family, we have strived to keep it simple.

I know that the news tells us that these are difficult times economically for everyone. For many, for sure, but I challenge you to look at your lives and honestly decide if things have truly changed for you, or has the doom and gloom you've been listening to warped your mind. Many people have lost their job and my heart breaks for them. I can't imagine how tough that would be. However, there are many who still have their jobs and really, when you look at gas prices, you could say that life is looking up. :o)

I have been struck this year in particular that we often look at what other people have and moan and groan because they have something that we do not have. How sad that we waste our energy on such things. Then we wonder why we aren't happy. It is impossible to be happy if we are comparing our lives with someone else's. The Bible says to be content with such things as ye have (Hebrews 13:5). God knew our hearts and that we would have a tendency to look at others. We are also to find our happiness in Him, not in stuff. If you think about it, finding happiness in stuff is very short lived. We need to focus on the people God has put in our lives and the blessings He has given us, rather than the stuff!

If you are going through a difficult time, remember that God is in charge. He commands us to "In everything give thanks." He didn't say "for everything give thanks". He meant that in every situation to give thanks. Even in tough situations, we can find things to be thankful for. One of the best things to do to help us be more thankful is to look around and find someone worse off than us, there are millions, and do something for them. It doesn't need to require money. Go to a nursing home or assisted living place and sit and talk to a lonely senior, babysit for a mom, take a child to the library, etc.
God also promises that "everything works together for good." (Romans 8:28) This doesn't mean that the actual event is necessarily good, but rather He can bring good out of even bad situations. We can learn lessons, help others in the future, build character, LEAN MORE HEAVILY ON HIM, learn to trust Him more, etc.
Remember that if your burden is heavy, it is because you haven't given in to the Lord. Matthew 11:30 says that His burden is light. And, oh by the way, after you give it to him DO NOT take it back. :o)--I have a tendency to do this!