Healthy Contentment

There are two pairs of individuals in the Bible that have always intrigued me. Noah and Enoch in the Old Testament and Peter and James, the brother of John, in the New.

Noah and Enoch both were described as men who, "walked with God." Enoch walked with God and was taken straight to heaven in what looks like an elated early retirement (Gen. 5:24). Noah on the other hand was just as spiritual and walked with God. He however, labored 120 years with ridiculing neighbors, lived one year in a floating barn, and landed on a shore with no neighbors or supporting culture!

Peter and James are the second pair. In Acts 12 we see that both are arrested for their faith. James is executed and Peter is visited by an angel who frees him from prison.

Often I look at my life and wonder why my life and calling seem so frustrating while others follow God equally well and seem to have it easy. Have you ever done this?

If we live too long with that question unanswered we will get bitter. God did not save you to be bitter, he saved you to be better. Here are some elements that will keep you from bitter and move you to better in the comparison temptation.

The element of Perspective
Noah worked hard and struggled, but children remember Noah's story and usually don't know who Enoch is till much latter in life. James lost his life, but earned his reward sooner. Remember Peter was martyred too, but went through many trials along with victories on the journey.

The element of Peace
Paul said that he had learned to be content in whatever situation he found himself. Most of Acts focuses on his missionary journeys and amazing events. But the last few chapters of Acts cover several years of Paul's life, all spent in prison. Paul would have rather been free, but did God's work in whatever situation God gave him.

The element of Purpose
If we know our purpose, or find our purpose, we can take a real beating in life and keep on ticking. If we see no purpose in our pain then we are miserable. God wants to talk to you about his plan for you and your journey. Just start to ask him.

Finally, I found a cool article about weight loss and health. It indicates that stress, missing forgiveness of others, missing forgiveness of self, lack of spiritual purpose and bitterness all lead to chemical reactions in the body that make it difficult to lose weight and make us gain weight! Filter through the stuff you may disagree with in the article, but be inspired by the good stuff.

Paul