The Secret to Contentment~

If only, I was married.
If only, I wasn't married.

If only, I had my dream job.
If only, I was retired.

If only, my children were old and grown
and on their own.
If only, my children were little again.

If only I was skinny.

If only I was talented.

If only I was rich.

If only.
If only.
If only.

Have you ever been caught up
in the "if only" game?

I'm sure you probably have.
After all,
it's pretty popular
and it doesn't require much more
than a discontented heart
for you to be able to play along.

For some odd reason,
we humans are never quite satisfied
with where we are now.

We somehow think
if our circumstances were different,
everything else
would be different, too.

We'd be
happier,
healthier,
prettier,
richer,
kinder.

We'd be
more productive,
more popular,
more dependable,
more agreeable,
more Christ-like.

Unfortunately,
the "if only" game
only leaves us feeling
depressed,
frustrated,
defeated,
and ready to give up.

Want to know
how to win
at the game of life?

Want to know
the secret to
enjoying where you are,
making the most of the moment at hand,
finding contentment
no matter what
your circumstances are?

Here it is:

The secret is Christ in me,
not me
in a different set of circumstances.
~Elisabeth Elliot

You see,
what matters most
is not what is happening around us,
but who is residing inside us.
If we have Christ in us,
we have all we need.
Period.
End of story.

It is Christ that makes the difference.

Instead of dwelling on our circumstances,
we simply need
to trust in and rely on
the One dwelling inside us.

If Christ is in us,
than Christ is also in
our finances,
our health,
our marriage,
our loneliness,
our children,
our job,
our conflict,
our trials,
our victory.

The very One
who is in our midst
is in the midst
of our circumstances, too.

Right here,
right now,
God is here.

All we need to do
is to keep our focus
on Him,

Allow Christ
to become the center of
where you are,
what you are doing,
and who you are becoming
through it all.

In every season of our life,
Christ longs
to make it count.

And, He will . . .
if,
we keep our eyes
and our heart
fixed on Him.

~Stacy