by Steve Nickodemus

Do you ever feel trashed?

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“… I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…”
Philippians 4:12b

Are you having one of those days?  You know, where you just feel down in the dumps, where you feel trashed by others, where you feel discarded and without value?  Maybe you feel like you should be sitting in this recliner in a dumpster, waiting to be taken out with the rest of the trash.

How can you feel good about life at a time like this?  All the “attaboys” in the world, all the self-help books, all the self motivation techniques are not going to take away the facts that you have suffered much loss, and your sorrow and discouragement are very real.  You might call it the “Job” situation of sitting on an ash heap in pain and mourning, waiting to die.

Saint Paul says that he has “learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.”  What is this secret contentment that Paul has in every situation?  He states simply, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”

God is the secret of contentment in the midst of the sorrow and dumps of life.  The giving of His Son, the strength that comes from His unconditional love, the redemption and new birth that He gives; this is where contentment comes from.  Not from my strength, but God’s.  Not from my resources, but my Lord’s.  Not from my abundance, but His.

In what circumstances do you find yourself today?  May the Lord Jesus who has saved us by His blood come and be present with you, wherever you might be.  May His strength be your strength, His Life be your life, His peace be your peace.  And He will lift you up…

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado