The other day I overheard this German lady I work with joking with another co-worker how English has so many words that share a common spelling/pronunciation, but have very different meanings. In linguistics, this is called a homonym (thanks Wikipedia - rimshot for achieving a degree in writing yet not knowing that term offhand). Fun example time: stalk (corn legs) and stalk (the only reason single men walk around Victoria's Secret); tear (what rolled down my cheek at the end of Toy Story 3 - only a true man admits that) and tear (the result of an intense night of basketball after nearly a year of zero exercise); fill (what I have to do to my gas tank every two minutes) and Phil (TV's saucy psychologist with a bent for being overly dramatic - ironic anyone?). Anyway, this conversation gets me thinking about another homonym that I can relate to right now: content (satisfied, finding surroundings/circumstances sufficient) and content (the stuff of life, the fillers, the substance).
To a stranger, the circumstances my wife and I are living in right now may seem undesirable, incomplete, a bitter taste in one's mouth perhaps. But in our minds, we are right where we want to be. We are content. And that is 100% God's doing. He brought us to this point, to the place in our character where we can look at the storm and smile. "That sounds crazy, Shane, what are you smokin'?" No kidding, only God can refine us enough to where we look upon hardship as opportunity, view trials with joy. Why? Because I've scraped the bottom of my personal deep end the past few years, especially recently, and I've come to realize some things:
1. Yes, God has an amazing purpose for our lives, reinforced by His promises, affirmed by His prophecy even.
2. There is absolutely no freaking way we would be able to handle the next season without the proper equipment, without God Himself refining our character to be able to handle the challenges that lie ahead. The only time we'll move ahead is when God knows we're good and ready, and to demand otherwise of Him is impatient, very selfish, and obscenely foolish.
3. God is a God of process, not instant gratification. If He made us who we're supposed to be overnight, where would we go from there? What authority would we have? There is value in experience, in the long road, and there is authority in experience. It's like playing a board game - it seems to me there are two types of people in this world: those who play impatiently, always jonesin' for the finish line and never find joy in playing the game; or there are those who enjoy actually playing the game - the challenges, the thrills, the questions - because they know they'll become a better player for it, and have tons of fun with whoever they're playing with. Because you know what? We are being built, right here and now, into someone who will be able handle with confidence the things we couldn't right now. James 1:2-4 says:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
One of my favorite bands, Mainstay, said it well: "You're just becoming who you are..."
I am genuinely ecstatic despite these dry, brittle days, because I am pregnant with the hope of what God's flourishing through this. It seems like the harder the battle, the greater the victory. We are truly content with the contents of our lives right now, knowing full well, as we press into God and move forward with Him, He will reward our trust...
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
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