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Whether we are married or single, the only way can enjoy the moment is by being content. Jesus is the one who strengthens us in the both depressing and joyful moments. Contentment is not something we are born with. We have to learn it. Just living life is a classroom for learning it. Shattered dreams and unmet expectations are great practice. But we can't do it on our own, we need Jesus.
When times are good, remember that you still need Him. "Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' " Proverbs 30:9a
I was just doing some studying tonight and I thought I would share a synopsis of what I learned.
Also, I have felt recently that God doesn't answer my prayers or that He's not listening. Then yesterday as I was reading the book of Habakkuk I realized something. Habakkuk had been praying for a long time (my Quest Bible says about 12 years) for justice in Judah. He wanted the corruption to end in the Southern Kingdom. During those years he thought that God wasn't listening to him but He was! He was preparing Babylon as an empire ready to take charge of Judah and purify them of their sins. This may seem harsh but that's what was necessary at the time. Habakkuk realized this and in the end knew that God was in control of everything and everyone, even those as ruthless as the Babylonians (which He judged eventually as well).
So when it seems like God is not answering your prayers and you feel like those prayers are lost or weren't heard, remember that in the Bible sometimes things took time. God always listens to us, it's just that He may be working behind the scenes to address the problem. Just like he did with the Babylonian Empire. It took years to build them up and have them ready to clean out Judah. This is similar to what He did with the Northern Kingdom of Israel with the Assyrian Empire.
We have to see that prayers that are taking their time could be a learning tool for contentment as well. Don't fight them, learn from them. Be content because that's the only way we can enjoy life, by finding contentment in the Lord.
Have you found contentment in Him? Do you feel like you have unanswered prayers? Do you think that maybe God is working behind the scenes to answer them?
When times are good, remember that you still need Him. "Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' " Proverbs 30:9a
I was just doing some studying tonight and I thought I would share a synopsis of what I learned.
Also, I have felt recently that God doesn't answer my prayers or that He's not listening. Then yesterday as I was reading the book of Habakkuk I realized something. Habakkuk had been praying for a long time (my Quest Bible says about 12 years) for justice in Judah. He wanted the corruption to end in the Southern Kingdom. During those years he thought that God wasn't listening to him but He was! He was preparing Babylon as an empire ready to take charge of Judah and purify them of their sins. This may seem harsh but that's what was necessary at the time. Habakkuk realized this and in the end knew that God was in control of everything and everyone, even those as ruthless as the Babylonians (which He judged eventually as well).
So when it seems like God is not answering your prayers and you feel like those prayers are lost or weren't heard, remember that in the Bible sometimes things took time. God always listens to us, it's just that He may be working behind the scenes to address the problem. Just like he did with the Babylonian Empire. It took years to build them up and have them ready to clean out Judah. This is similar to what He did with the Northern Kingdom of Israel with the Assyrian Empire.
We have to see that prayers that are taking their time could be a learning tool for contentment as well. Don't fight them, learn from them. Be content because that's the only way we can enjoy life, by finding contentment in the Lord.
Have you found contentment in Him? Do you feel like you have unanswered prayers? Do you think that maybe God is working behind the scenes to answer them?