Not too long ago, I wrote about how hard it is to be content (with singleness) and how I longed to know Paul's reciepe of contentment that he writes about in Philippians.
Tonight, I stumbled on to an article by Carolyn McCulley about Contentment in the Wait. Near the end of her article she says:
Contentment calls for humility. We have to intentionally humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand when our circumstances don’t work out to our liking. Without a doubt, it is humbling to go year after year with a hope deferred! It’s very humbling to keep showing up at family events as the only single sibling, or to go to the wedding of a former boyfriend without a date. But we have to remember that, as Christian women, we’re not here to promote our personal success stories, anyway. We’re here as trophies of grace — broken clay jars carrying around incredibly valuable treasure. Even if the Lord should grant our petition for marriage and a family, our witness and purpose do not change. Only our circumstances change. [emphasis mine]
I had forgotten that I am a trophy of grace. For most of my life, I have spent too much time trying to earn my already gifted salvation trying to prove my worth. What a joy it is to celebrate that I am a trophey of grace. How underserving I am to be one--but I guess that is the whole point!
I mean . . . really now. . . imagine that! God considers me a trophy--a symbol of success or victory--that he prominetly displays in his dwelling place. He is proud of his work in my life. He was victorious, and I am the trophy. The trophy of grace. I am not on display on his heavenly shelf because of the things I have done . . . but because of of what he has done. Just like athletes earn the trophys they receive, it was God who did the work in me.
As a sidenote: Carolyn alludes to the same concept that I blogged about a few days ago, she just approaches it in a slightly different light. Its not the focus of her article, but she reminds me again that my goal in life--to know and make known God, to glorify him by enjoying him--does not change if I one day wed.
Father, may my contentment be found in you alone. Thank you for placing valuable treasure in this messed-up broken clay jar.
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