"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."
Philippians 4:11
As Believers, we have all experienced Mountain tops in our Christian Walk, whether it's victory over sin, or being recharged in a Revival; and as Believers, we have all experienced Valleys in our Christian Walk, whether it's disappointment, unmet expectations, or the loss of a loved one.
But what about our Meadow? Where we dwell on a day-to-day basis; our 'normal.' Sometimes we can misidentify our Meadow for a Valley. As a person who lives with a chronic illness, on really bad days I tend to think I've drifted into a Valley, when in truth, I'm just having a bad day in my Meadow.
Everybody's Meadows are different; however, most Meadows are outlined by shelter belts. Trees, overgrown brush, thistles and thorns. Sometimes our feelings, health and loneliness will draw us to the tree line. Discontent in our Meadow, we take a step inside the shelter belt, and we get entangled in the thistles, the cares of the world. But if we turn around, even though we have not escaped the wooded area, the view we have of our own Meadow doesn't look so bad anymore and we are safely drawn back to where we need to be. (Sometimes we think the grass is greener in someone else's Meadow and we get distracted.) Tall grass may be in our Meadow; hidden critters of fatigue and disappointments tend to make us look down and think we have entered into a Valley, but when we look up and see The Son, our perspective changes and we become thankful for our own Meadow, no matter where it may be, and no matter what it may hold, because we know that our needs are being met right where we are.
My Meadow isn't always easy...
But I choose to be content...
Because I know my Lord placed me here...
But that's just me!
In the In Between
Wayne Watson/Sandi Patty
2012
I've seen some glorious days,
Where I flew so much higher,
Much higher than I ever thought I would,
And soaring through the air I would declare,
Well, isn't God, Isn't He good?
'Cause He was, and He is, and He always will be,
But in the in between
It's hard for me to see,
In the in between.
Where everyday life happens,
And the fields of green
Belonged to someone else
In the in between
Of what will be and what has been
Jesus is a faithful friend
In the in between
I've been unsure of myself
But even in the dark
I'm pretty sure that all is well and then I see
There in a mirror looking back at me
A work that is not everything that it would be
And He was and He is, And He always will be
Close beside and holdin' on to me
And in the in between
Where everyday life happens,
And the fields of green
Belonged to someone else
In the in between
Of what will be and what has been
Jesus is a faithful friend
In the in between
Grace and mercy know no season
There is no good reason why the best of days
Might not be the days ahead
And in the in between when you have some time to dream
Your faith and strength will be restored
By the gracious Lord of the in between
Where everyday life happens and the fields of green
Belonged to someone else
In the in between
Of what will be and what has been
(Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever)
Jesus is a faithful friend,
In the in between.
