Yesterday was a good day. My boys played nicely in the basement all day together. I actually had some time to myself so I decided to sit down with the old time waster (ie. the internet) and get caught up on the world of social media. Slowly, my good day began to sink. Maybe it was the new house so and so built, or the weight that other person lost, but I'm pretty sure it was the Caribbean vacation photos that finally sunk my ship.
Boom. Discontentment.
All of a sudden my lovely day was left wanting. Wanting a Caribbean vacation.
So I visited travel site after travel site, looking for that magical cheap (free) vacation. The more I searched, the more I realized it wasn't going to happen and I had this inexplicable sensation of fear. What if I never get to see Cancun or St. Lucia or Anguilla? Will my life really be complete if I don't? My heart and the world says it won't. My life will not be complete - discontentment. And now I need it but I can't have it - fear. Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO).
Fear that my life will be incomplete if I don't have or experience such and such. The nice car/house, the perfect body, the exotic vacation, the right friends including me in the right things, obedient children. A million big and little things that swarm around us constantly. All those things my heart thinks it needs and can't get. And the response is fear.
And when my fear is big, my God is small.
He can't, or won't, give me what I need. What I think I need. No, He gives me something much greater. The problem is that it's quieter and not as visible. It takes faith.
It's the treasure hidden in the field, the pearl of great value.
The One who calms the storm and walks on water.
The One who gives me purpose in this life and everlasting life in the next.
The One who loves me enough to give me the only thing I really need: Himself.
I'm always blown away by the disciples and the apostles after Jesus ascends into heaven. They literally lay their lives down, suffer persecution of all kinds and still rejoice. I think I need a Caribbean vacation to have joy.
Joy is right here, always present. His name is Jesus.
"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10)
