Learnable Moments For Moms: Devotions To Discover God In The EverydayНамуна

While I was at the end of my pregnancy, everyday activities with an active toddler began to get more and more difficult. Sitting on the floor to play was a feat, trying to read a book with her on my lap was comical, and playing on a child-sized playground was simply exhausting. 

One day my toddler was playing in her little tent. “Mommy, come in!” she called to me. I could barely fit in her tent without being eight months pregnant. 

“I’m too big to fit in your tent right now, but I can poke my head in,” I offered. She was not satisfied. Then she did what we all love and hate as parents- she quoted me back to myself. 

“You can do it, Mommy, just try!” she said with optimistic encouragement. I love that she listens and is learning perseverance, but I would rather not have that same perseverance applied to myself. After a lot of groaning, wiggling, and scooting, I successfully crammed myself into the little tent, bent over under the short roof, my knees touching hers in the tight space. She had the biggest smile, “Good job, Mommy! You did it!” Of course I had known that it was physically possible for me to fit in the tent, I just hadn’t wanted to go through the work it would take to accomplish it.

READ

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  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.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11-14a

APPLY

While the last verse in this selection from Philippians is well-known, we rarely look at it within the context of the verses that come before it. We know that we can do all things through Christ, but there are a lot of things that we don’t want to do or are simply unwilling to do. If we claim this verse and use it to accomplish great things that we never dreamed that we could achieve, then we shouldn’t be surprised when God whispers it back to us when He calls us to do menial, ordinary, or even demeaning tasks for Him. 

Doing all things means just that—all things. Living the Christian life is not easy- it is messy. God wants us to say “yes, I can do it” to whatever He calls us to, big or small, easy or difficult, glamorous or monotonous. Whatever our circumstances, contentment comes when we say “yes” even when it means making a sacrifice.

PRAY

Father, thank you for laying out good plans for me. Forgive me for the times that I say ‘yes’ only to the plans that I want to be a part of, rather than all that you have called me to participate in.

REFLECT

What do I need to say “yes, I can do it” to today?