Learning To Live With It
by an Old Disciple
"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."~ Phil. 4:11
In the context of our scripture the Apostle is speaking of accepting, equally, the hard times in life along with the good . I am glad he inserted the word, “learned”, We naturally do not have to be taught to live with the good and pleasant, but to live co-equally with the distasteful things of life, well, that must be learned over the years.
It is by no way an easy thing to digest those bitter transitory conditions we all experience in our earthly journey. But it has and can be done, knowing such things will come to pass; but we do it with some reluctance, I might add. But what of those things that enter our lives, those things that come to stay, the clinger-ons, the ones you can't shake off? Like a viper, it clings till death do us part.
In such cases, praying doesn't help. When Moses brought up such a situation in his own life to God, the answer was that God didn't want to discuss it anymore. It was also the same in Paul's case, he prayed three times, over a period of fourteen years, for its removal. The answer was that it was there to stay, and God's grace was sufficient for him.
In my own case I've had to accept the fact I'm aged, afflicted, and it will always be that way till death. After doing so I found happiness followed contentment. How about you, what do you need to accept?
“Of unattainable longings sour is the fruit.”~ C.S. Lewis
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If you’d like the Biblical insight to the issues of our day my son Andrew’s link is here.