Life Isn’t What I Thought It Would Be

[notice]A fortnightly devotional based on everyday experiences.[/notice]

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

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I want more for my life.

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She didn’t say it, but I heard it.

She said, “I didn’t think I’d still be doing this at my age.”

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Comparisons rolled out her mouth:
o I wish I was married like C.
o I wanted to be in a managerial position like M.
o If only I’d studied the same course as X.
o I thought I’d have children now like R.

I gently reminded her she’d only just turned 25. I reiterated she was much closer to the job she wanted to do then I was at the same age. And I told her that what she was learning now, that this preparation would be invaluable in getting her where she wanted to go.

That she should view this as a time of preparation for bigger things.

She still looked dissatisfied.

I’m pretty sure growing up David (of David & Goliath fame in the Bible) was constantly comparing himself to his brothers: Did he sling a stone as well as they did? Could he run as fast as them? Did he play the harp as well as them?

It’s not in the bible but I wonder how often as David watched his brothers go off to war and he went off to tend sheep he thought, “I want more for my life”.

David took the mundane (watching sheep eat grass) and used it as a time of preparation. All that time doing something he didn’t want to do was used honing his skills with a catty. He played the harp to the rocks and the birds.

When the opportunity arrived for him to take down Goliath with one small stone, David was ready. When King Saul needed someone to calm him with music, David was well practiced.

The remarkable thing about David is that he didn’t allow comparisons to discourage him. He didn’t sit back and think, “I’ll never be a soldier like my brothers” so why even try?

If you’re frustrated with your life at the moment, focus on doing the small things well because you never know when God might give you the opportunity to slay a giant, speak to a king or lead armies of people.

Are you frustrated with your life? Ask God what he might be preparing you for at the moment. Think about what little things you can focus on in preparation for the big things in your future.