How to Be Satisfied Where You Are

DAY 320
8-20-10
2 CORINTHIANS 5-8


Good Morning!

My daughter serves as a student missionary in Northern California. Yesterday she sent me a wonderful note, and a copy of the front of her Bible that addresses one of our family struggles. In her 19 years of living, she has moved multiple times. It’s a fact of life for ministry families. Much to my chagrin she has always talked about how many houses she’s lived in; how many schools she’s attended; how many churches she’s called home; and how many friends she’s left behind. It makes me want to cry.

Through the years, my wife and I have struggled with this and we’ve finally come to an understanding that has made our nomadic life bearable. It is the concept found in songs like “This world is Not My Home.” Jesus told those who wanted to be his disciples that in this life there will be times when you won’t even have a place to lay your head.

Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 5:1, “Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” He understood what it was like to live with the reality that we may not always have what we want here and now; but no matter what happens, we have a home in heaven.

For this fact to help us in our lives we must “live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7) When I walk by faith, I will not base my life just on what I can see, experience, and have now. I will have an eternal mindset. However, roots, or the desire for roots is always on my mind.

Not too long ago our good friends gave us a tree representing the roots we planted where we live now…and then they moved away! See, life is so transitory…but with God life is always steady. He is everywhere.

My wife and I, and my daughter love a parallel passage found in Hebrews 11. It’s about the migratory life of Abraham. He walked with God and lived in tents and yet he too looked forward to roots. “He was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Heb. 11:10)

How do we survive this life? How do we find joy in current circumstances? How can we be satisfied with our home? “Live by faith and not by sight.”

Barry