June 24th

I think that for a while I'm going to have to be content with not being "okay". Philippians 4:11 says, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" So maybe, my present circumstances are kind of sucking for me right now, but I'm slowly learning how to be content with them. I"m becoming content with my pain, hurting, and mass confusion. I think if we start asking God "why?", we'll start to become less content. Although, it's human nature to do so anyways. However, sometimes we forget about verses like Psalm 37:7 "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes." I'm not sure if you caught the "wait patiently" part in that, but I think sometimes we're forced to sit and wait for God's plan to play out while we suffer. We'll see people doing so much better than us and others doing what they aren't supposed to, and we'll want to be apart of that crowd because we SUCK at waiting for God to carry out his hand-crafted plan for our lives. So, just maybe, my plan right now is to be patient, even though I'm hurting. I think that it's a part of the healing process. In order to know the joy afterwards, we gotta get through this pain. Romans 8:18 says, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." This verse reminds me that our sufferings shouldn't be dwelled on, even though they're apart of the plan for our lives. However, James 1:12 reminds me that there's a reward for sticking it out. "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." Do you hear that? There's a CROWN OF LIFE waiting at the end of this trial. So...maybe...being put through all of these things that make all of us humans suffer: heartache, job loss, moving, depression, anxiety, family issues... are worth it? If God's path for me is that I suffer, then so be it. There's a crown of life waiting for me, and that's something to be content with. For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances; and if that means that I'm not going to be okay for a while, that's okay-because the crown is worth it.

Hope you have a good month or week or day or even hour :)

It's gonna get better

Emma Jane