While God’s ways may be mysterious, He reveals facets of His character, desires, and promises throughout scripture. Moreover, those of us who are believers are in the process of sanctification (Hebrews 10:14, 1 Corinthians 6:11). In other words, we are actively becoming more like Jesus Christ over our lifespan since we came to saving faith. Linking these two realities together sheds light on why we should pay attention keenly when scripture teaches us these things. We get to know God more intimately and learn what He desires we do by following the example of Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:20). The more we learn about who God is, the more confidence we will have in taking action as ambassadors of Jesus Christ throughout our lives (2 Corinthians 5:20). Since we also know God does not change His mind, we can take solace in the fact that He will keep His promises to us (Numbers 23:19).

Interestingly, God withholds segments of His plan from all of us. However, since we know that His agenda simultaneously maximizes His glory and the good of His children, there is no need to worry when we do not understand what He is doing (Romans 8:28). It is critical to remember that He operates on an eternal timetable, which can sometimes make better sense of our circumstances. God does not promise a life free of problems, challenges, turmoil, or trials. Jesus Christ warns us if the world hated Him, it would also hate us. (John 15:18-25). Thankfully, Jesus Christ also overcame the world and offers us peace even amid trouble and tribulation. In turn, this should inspire us to feel encouraged and find the motivation in Him to even be of good cheer in the process (John 16:33)!

Ultimately, God reveals and withholds things from us at His discretion (Proverbs 3:5-6). Several times in my life, I may have been daunted and not followed through if God had given me the fully revealed blueprint of what would come. It can be intimidating or even paralyzing to have a tremendous mountain to climb ahead of us. Instead, we should only focus on taking each step forward one at a time. We will find it much easier to manage and take ample time to seek God’s will at every crucial juncture (Jeremiah 29:13). In turn, He will also bless us with the rest we need to persevere when we come to Him for help (Matthew 11:28-30). You and I do ourselves a tremendous favor to heed the following advice as well:

“34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Matthew 6:34 (NKJV)

If we refrain from worry, we will better equip ourselves to tackle life’s numerous challenges in light of this Biblical principle. Conversely, when we preoccupy ourselves with the past or overly dwell on the future, we rob ourselves of the ability to maximize the present. Enjoying the journey, being fully engaged in what is in front of us, and staying focused on our current circumstances will ensure that we do not take anything for granted. Practicing mindfulness like this will give you many advantages and remind you to appreciate the opportunities right before you! After all, not a day is promised to us, and it is critical to redeem the time for God’s glory (James 4:13-14, Ephesians 5:16-18). 

I would recommend balancing the discipline of abstaining from worry whenever possible with occasional reflection on the past to learn from mistakes and actively make reasonable plans for the future. After all, there is a significant difference between reflecting on prior events and obsessing about them. Likewise, there is a distinction between being consumed by future possibilities and setting expectations or making general goals for the life you want to achieve. However, we must always be adaptable because God is our vessel’s captain, and we must prepare for the unpredictable seas ahead (Proverbs 16:9, Jeremiah 29:11).

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

• Corrie Ten Boom

It is such an attitude of gratitude that continually bolsters our disposition to be content. At least a handful of Bible verses offer us insight into why this is valuable, but ultimately they appear to point in the same general direction. Such understanding ought to provoke us to value God above everything else and recognize that He is everything. Without God, we are nothing, but if we put Him first, He is always faithful to provide us with exactly what we need (2 Corinthians 9:8). You and I may have an idea of what we feel would best suit us from our finite perspective, but God in His infinite wisdom knows what is best for us regarding His eternal plans and our eternal well-being (Romans 8:28). Thus, even in our gratitude, there ought to be an understanding that we value God Himself as our greatest treasure and not His provisions, no matter how wonderful some of those might be.

“6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

1 Timothy 6:6-12 (NKJV)

Contentment is particularly beneficial in getting rid of our worldly ambitions and replacing them with a desire to serve God. Instead of always trying to figure out our own best interests; it would be preferable to think about the future with a Biblical lens. It is this kind of lens that positions us to consider things from the vantage point of eternity. Of course, there is a place to enjoy things such as leisure, comfort, luxury, and personal care, but when these things become essential in our eyes, they can turn into hazardous distractions. Rather than serving to improve your life, they could hinder your focus away from God and cause you to stumble into idolatry. As such, we need to pray God would help free us from the love of money, which is the root of all kinds of evil. Likewise, it would benefit us greatly to diminish our love for the things of this world while our love for God and His Word increases.

Thanksgiving tradition emphasizes gratitude, but we should live a lifestyle of thankfulness daily. Furthermore, when we focus our attention on Jesus Christ, we find satisfaction that leads to contentment. When we rest our joy on our relationship with Jesus Christ, we can rest assured that no one will ever be able to take it away. Everything and everyone else can pass away, be lost, or even get stolen from us. Meanwhile, our joy centered in our Lord and Savior will remain now and forever. Our happiness can fluctuate up and down based on the consistent changes we experience on this side of Heaven. However, no matter how chaotic it may appear externally, God will never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Jesus Christ will always be there to lead the way for us as the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Nothing else on the face of the earth can offer such certainty amid uncertain circumstances in the tumultuous world in which all of us currently reside.

If you are suffering, struggling, or otherwise do not feel as though you have a lot to be thankful for, I encourage you to take comfort in God and His Word. It does not matter if you are facing a health issue, financial crisis, mental health problems, or your family relations are in turmoil. You may even be out of strength to fight the battle on your own, and the solution may not seem obvious to you. However, God’s strength is made perfect in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). I want to encourage you that even if you cannot handle the trials, God will give you the help you need. Take a step of faith and start with prayer. Shift your attention to God and His Word instead of your battles. Soon you will realize that He will lift you in due time and help you confront your issues with strength, wisdom, confidence, and joy, among His other numerous provisions. It is critical to ask for His help in each of the problems you are facing in faith and obedience (Hebrews 11:6). Take a step in the right direction with His help. It does not have to be a giant one but start by getting the ball rolling with minor victories. Eventually, you will make progress as long as you do not grow weary in doing right (Galatians 6:9).

Sometimes if we want a significant shift in our lives, God may require us to make substantial changes. Ponder what those might be and seek God’s insight. Sit and listen to God through prayer and Bible study. It is only a matter of time before your next action step becomes clear to you. Don’t get stung by analysis paralysis because of too many areas demanding your attention. Perhaps instead of multitasking in such a situation, it would be prudent to consider prioritizing everything and addressing each issue accordingly, one at a time from most to least integral. We all only have 24 hours each day, and some of our struggles will require incremental adjustments to make progress. For example, if you plan to get out of financial struggles, you may need to set a budget and adjust your spending habits. It may take significant time for you to see substantial progress, but this kind of consideration would likely bear fruit if you exercise discipline and self-control over a sustained time horizon

Suffice it to say that in all circumstances, we need to find contentment as Paul did. He was imprisoned in a dungeon that likely makes modern prisons look like five-star hotel accommodations. But in all of this, he remained faithful, and God never abandoned him (Philippians 4:11-13). If God helped Paul, He could come through for you too. Don’t underestimate the power of prayer and wielding a willingness to obey God’s commands. In every circumstance, you find yourself in, and in every concern you have, make your requests known to God with thanksgiving in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7). There’s no need to be anxious, worried, or afraid of an uncertain future when you serve the one true God with certainty (Matthew 6:34). After all, we should know and trust that He is sovereign over everything and provides us all we need. If nothing else, all of us believers can find real and lasting contentment in Jesus Christ. When we do, we will realize that everything else is trivial by comparison. Furthermore, He intends to bless us with peace, hope, and a future in Him forever (Jeremiah 29:11).

The particular form of restraint I wanted to focus on today involves restraining our tongues. In James 1:19-20, we read:

19 “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

When we speak, we can offer insight to others. However, it’s when we listen that we open the door to expanding our learning. Of course, a balance is pivotal because teaching does have its perks. Apart from the satisfaction of helping others who appreciate your advice, there’s the added benefit of solidifying to memory what you have recently learned. If we learn by reading, that’s good, but adding audio and visual cues to the same information is often the catalyst to better reinforcing them in our memories. The final avenue of affirming that information is to teach it. This last phase of recalling things to memory allows us to help others while we simultaneously benefit ourselves. However, when it comes to Biblical teaching, we need to be cautious before taking the role of a pastor or a teacher. We need to recognize the responsibility to deliver God’s truth as accurately as possible. The last thing we want is to mislead others based on an inaccurate interpretation of God’s Word. After all, those who teach in some form will be subject to a stricter judgment.

Restraining our tongues touches all these areas and many more that will go unmentioned in this article. One of the benefits of holding our peace and avoiding rash speech is to take in all the relevant information before we speak of it. It’s advantageous to all of us because it allows us to take a step back from an emotionally charged disposition and remain as objective as we can from our perspective. A premature response can lead us to say things in anger, worry, or sadness that we might regret a few minutes later. Such adverse outcomes are especially apparent in relationships where communication, patience, and forgiveness are paramount. Therefore, ideally, we should consolidate all the facts and understand things more comprehensively before our reply.

You and I aren’t capable of being angry without susceptibility to sin as God can be. His anger is perfectly justified and doesn’t impair his ability to thoroughly empathize with each person and their situation. We ought to rid ourselves of anger as soon as possible, so we don’t fall into a sinful snare. Even when our anger is justified, it should likely be short-lived. After all, we have wronged people, yet God has forgiven us. Who are we not to extend that same generous forgiveness to other loved ones in our proximity?

Restraining our tongue has additional benefits when we wield it for God’s glory. Our speech can be used to build up or tear down according to scripture. We’ve all seen this in action at some point in our lives as well. Whether we do the building and tearing or someone applying it to us, the key is recognizing its power and using it for good. Interestingly enough, it’s often the people that are closest to us who can build or destroy us most effectively. You and I would primarily care about how God viewed us and delight in His approval alone in an ideal situation. However, this isn’t a place that is quickly arrived. We may think ourselves more immune to the perception and opinions of others than we indeed are. Such sensitivity shouldn’t be cause for alarm, but it should lead us to contemplate what we can do to mitigate destructive forces. First, we need to surround ourselves with loved ones who don’t put us down and spend more time with people who motivate us instead. It isn’t always easy because we don’t choose our family, and we’ll typically spend most of our childhood into our young adult life with them whether we get along with them or not. In such cases, we need to make the best of it and pray for God to give us the strength to endure when the situation gets challenging.

The reality is we can control some things in our immediate circumstances, while other things are difficult to change. We need to learn to fix what is in our power to rectify and reduce the damage from the fixed inconveniences as best as we can. Everyone you and I know, ourselves included, is battling something. Sometimes it’s an inner struggle that involves things like worry, anxiety, or depression. Other times it might be a physical impairment or injury that we need to heal. Still yet other times, it may be external factors that don’t seem to have an easy solution. Perhaps you had a great job but lost it due to the pandemic, or maybe you recently experienced the passing of a loved one due to unforeseen health issues. In all these cases and all circumstances, we must recognize that God has not abandoned us. It may be hard to comprehend why he would allow such things to happen, but you’re never alone.

God will never leave you or forsake you. He is still in control amid the seemingly insurmountable chaos. He might calm the storm for you, or He may strengthen you to handle it better. One thing remains certain. We cannot lose our hope or faith in God because that makes us strong. Exercise restraint by avoiding the allure to doubt His promises. We must restrain ourselves from losing hope and faith in Jesus Christ. You don’t need to do this alone, for God will Himself give you grace enough to endure and eventually thrive again as He wills.

9 “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)