Sunday, March 29, 2020

Still Learning


"...for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13 NKJV
I woke up this morning to gray skies and rain-not the intermittent rain and sun breaks of a few days ago, but a relentless downpour. I was doing okay with this coronavirus quarantine until I wasn't. This morning the gloomy weather piled on top of the gloomy circumstances in our world was the straw that broke the camel's back and I found myself murmuring and complaining. My husband was down at the church filming tomorrow's sermon for online broadcasting, so I had no one to gripe aloud to. My mumbling and grumbling was all going on within. I sat down with my coffee, Bible and journal to have my devotions and within moments I realized that I was acting no better than the children of Israel. You remember the story. God had miraculously rescued the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt and was leading them through the wilderness to the promised land. Every day God did miracles right before their eyes, but whenever He didn't do just what they wanted, how they wanted and when they wanted, they would start murmuring and complaining. Every time I read about their behavior I wonder how they could be so selfish and ungrateful. This morning, I realized I was behaving just like them. I am well. My family is all well. We have everything that we need. Yet, because the weather made me feel even more confined than I already do because of the quarantine, I was actually inwardly murmuring against God. Oh, I didn't say His name aloud or shake my fists in the air, but who else but Him were my inner complaints against?  I had to ask God to forgive me right then and there and then I had to make a choice to adjust my attitude. One thing that encouraged me were these words from the Apostle Paul from the fourth chapter of Philippians.-"I have learned."  I thought I was a pretty contented person. I thought I was well disciplined in choosing an attitude of gratitude. But today, I have learned that I still have some more learning to do.

8 comments:

  1. Elizabeth, I had this very same thought a few days ago. Amazing how God brings back the word "grumbling" to our minds. I also thought I was a pretty content person, until I wasn't. I am so grateful the Lord is patient and ever willing to teach us. Joining you and praying I remember to be content in these trying days. Blessings to you this morning!

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    1. Thank you, Joanne, for your humility and kindness and for letting me know I'm not alone in this struggle!

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  2. I love when God uses these moments to teach us.

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    1. He's so kind in the way He speaks even when He is correcting me!

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  3. I think we all have had those moments. It is scary times, and then when the unknown of all this hits, I too have had my grumbling moments. Thank you though for sharing the positive perspective of all that is going on and a better way of handling those days. Open the Bible and Journal. It does help. Or, I just write the thoughts for the day. Thank you for your Pastor husband who is doing his sermons by video. I'm sure your congregation is more than appreciating him at this time. Stay well, and have a good week.

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    1. It's so surreal the times we are living in. I'm so thankful that God is our steadfast refuge and strength through it all.

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  4. Excellent thoughts! I'm one of those essential infrastructure workers, and I'm also a natural homebody living in sparsely-populated area, so I can't say my schedule has been impacted much. Mostly just missing our gathering together at church. Still, I am not grumble-free! So good to remind myself often about the sin of complaining. (It's snowing again here today, but spring is coming!)

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    1. It was the feeling trapped indoors that got to me! I can handle the quarantine as long as I can outside for a walk!

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