Today’s New Covenant nugget is from Philippians 4:11 (AMPC)
Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
There are seasons in everybody’s life when you are not progressing, or going anywhere… when you are goal orientated, seasons like that can be a challenge. Paul was a great leader, yet he endured many seasons in his life where he faced isolation and stagnation (in the natural). When Paul penned Philippians 4:11 he was isolated in prison, and yet he was content.
God’s plan for your life is not to ‘continually’ be progressing and running on the mountain top. He LEADS us all through valleys and He even leads us to seasons where we have to ‘stop’, be still, or ‘not progress forward’. Elijah was led to the brook where he lived in isolation and did not lead anybody… then he was led to a widow woman and her son, and had a ministry toward two people for years. Paul was often ‘led’ to prison and limited to a congregation of one or two prison guards. Moses was ‘led’ into the wilderness, where he did not progress in his goals for forty years. Abraham did not ‘progress’ in his calling to be a father of many nations until he was one hundred years old.
Not all of the blessed life is made up of moving forward and achieving goals… some things that you are believing for may even feel like they may never happen.
The revelation is that there is great value in these seasons where we are at a standstill in regard to our goals and calling. We are like trees… if you keep digging them up and moving them around, they will not grow or bear fruit… they have to remain planted for long seasons to allow for growth before they bear fruit.
Abraham, Moses, David, Joseph, Paul and everybody else that the Lord greatly used had these seasons where they were divinely ‘stopped’ to allow for growth and preparation for a future season of great fruitfulness.
I remember deep sea fishing as a young teenager… while the boat was moving, it was fun, but when we put down the anchor to start fishing, it was hot, and the boat rocked in the waves to the point where some got sea-sick… but it was when we stopped that we got positioned to catch fish. When God stops you, He is positioning you to receive a harvest.
I remember sitting at some spots for long periods of time without results. The way that I overcame restlessness was to get a drink, to enjoy some conversation and to enjoy the view. Life is a journey, not a destination… the Lord needs us to grow our roots down deep in seasons and during those seasons He wants us to enjoy what we have, instead of focusing on what we need to be, what we need to get, or what needs to be achieved.
Some people cannot even sleep at night, because they are so driven… those people usually burn out quickly. God designed us all to STOP every day, to lie down, close our eyes and sleep. While we sleep, the body repairs itself, dreams help to defrag our minds and heal our challenging memories, the body detoxes itself, and our immune system boosts itself.
Just like in sleep, these seasons where the Lord pushes the ‘pause’ button are so important! So, if you feel like your life is on ‘pause’ right now, relax, feed your spirit, renew your mind, wait upon the Lord, and enjoy everything that you have right now. Be content and rest in the Lord, for before you know it, you will be running!
In His amazing love, Nick
