“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”
Where do you live?
No, I’m not asking “where” as in a place on a map. I’m thinking more of “where” we live in our thoughts.
Some of us live in the past. Every day we long for things to be the way they used to be. But they will never. Grief haunts us.
Some of us live in the future, in our dreams. We live focused on the day when the house will be paid off, the kids grown up and out of college, and we’ve landed our dream job or get that retirement check. Maybe you’re living for the day when you have kids and a better house–a day when the holes in your heart are filled.
When we live in the future, we believe we will be happy when we get ________. (You fill in your blank).
But…
Remember when you were a little kid and you couldn’t wait for Santa to bring the toy of your dreams? Remember when you got that toy? You were ecstatic for about 3 days until the newness wore off. Maybe it was longer. But the truth is that eventually the toy got old and there was another one that promised happiness.
Isn’t life just like that? We always want something better. I learned about this during our first move. We moved from Texas to Georgia. Mike was attending a 6 month school, and we would be assigned another duty station once he graduated.
It was only 6 months. But they were the longest, loneliest 6 months of my life because I did not “live” there. I functioned. I did what I had to do. But I did not get involved in ANYTHING.
I did hang pictures on the walls, because I have to do that! But I didn’t volunteer anywhere or get involved in the church we attended because I knew we were moving soon.
Have you done this? Have you failed to live in today because you know tomorrow is coming?
When Mike and I moved to the next duty station, I vowed that I would never do that again. I vowed that I would get involved in every community and church we moved to no matter how many months or years were printed on the moving orders.
I lost the opportunity to bless many people because I was so focused on myself and my timeline. If you do the math, I lost:
- 182.5 days
- 4,380 hours
- 262,800 minutes
That’s how much time I spent waiting for the inevitable future. Days, hours, and minutes I will never get back in that place because my thoughts were living somewhere else. I was grieving lost friendships and my job, as well as living focused on the future.
Miserable.
Lonely.
Bored.
I was not really ((living)) right where God put me.
The Complete Jewish Bible translates Psalm 37:3 this way: “…settle in the land and feed on faithfulness.”
The day I read Psalm 37:3 from the CJB, I was struck with the idea of not just “dwelling” but growing roots, making yourself at home, making it your home. Even if it’s only for 6 months.
The Psalm promises that as we dwell, live, settle in the land, God will be faithful. He will provide.
Let’s help each other think of ways to ((live)) right smack dab in the middle of our today.
Comment below with ways that you “settle” or “live” in the land where God has you currently.
Also, if you are searching for purpose or struggling in the land you’re living in, I would love to pray for you. You can comment below, use the “contact” tab above, or message me on my Facebook page.
With Much Joy!
andy
I’ve always loved the slogan “Grow Where You Are Planted.” God knows how to plant, prune, and even repot us! Thanks for today’s blog. We all have done this to some degree or other. Just by sharing and helping others avoid the trap you fell into, you are redeeming that time you felt you lost.
Thanks Sandy! “Bloom where you’re planted is another.” Love it! Thanks for the sweet promise of redemption. I love how God does that. Thanks for the reminder.