Have you ever been in a season where it’s the exact place you don’t want to be in? Yet here you are, with the future looking bleak, your energy sapped worrying what’s to come, and your heart sunk from losing control of living the life you’ve always wanted. You can be in your teenage years failing to attain that dream school, or in your 20s and haven’t had found your ideal spouse. Or even 40s and still unsatisfied with the career you’ve built.

Me? I am in a season in which I am called to love. Having to figure out this thing called adulthood and rebuilding a new community, these are 3 promises to remember in a season of discontentment :

1. God is Present
"The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged."- Deut 31:8
At first glance of trouble, often the first words we utter to God is, “Why God? Don’t you love me?” YES He does! God never gets tired of those who are tired. He is Abba Father who weeps and mourns with us when we go through pains. Let’s learn to see with the eyes of faith and say like the Psalmist, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me (Ps.23:4).

2. Joy is available today
5 months in to being home, I allowed complaints fill up my days. The comparison game of what life could be like made me miss what God is trying to do in my life. I wasted moments I could've enjoyed instead.

Worry easily seeps in if we don’t constantly fill ourselves with the truth of God’s word that informs our identity, soften our heart, and sharpen our mind. Our mind can swing like a pendulum to thoughts of past glories or future worries. That robs us of the present joy!

“So do not worry..For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”- Matt 6:31-33

I don’t have to wait until my situations change, so I can rejoice in the Lord. We can sing, dance, and delight in what Christ has done—forgiveness of sin, deliverance from slavery, and a secured worth. Thus, we are commanded to take great joy and gratitude amidst the present suffering. Instead of "What if", let's say, "Even if!".

3. Redemption is around the corner
As I meet many new people, I realize a lot of the things I went through enables me to relate deeply with others, becoming a blessing. I want to encourage you that today’s pain is nothing compare to the coming glory. The God of encouragement will use us to comfort others with the same comfort He has given us (2 Cor 1:4). What happens to you is never meant to stop with you. It happened through you and unto another!

So we remain steadfast in prayer, declaring His daily bread is enough. As Tim Keller says, Prayer is the way we know God, the way we finally treat God as God." Thus, we receive everything God has for us with thanksgiving ( 1 Tim 4:4).

God Himself is the best, most satisfying thing you could ever have. For isn’t fullness of life found in our proximity to Him though faith, instead of in any earthly success, relationship, or accomplishment?

Until faith meets sight,
Tam