by Lois Evans
During our seminary years, when all Tony and I could feast on was ground beef, I developed several ways to cook what we affectionately called “seminary steak.” While we didn’t have much then, in terms of fine food or clothing, we knew to be content with what we had. Today, the Lord has us in a different season of life, and while he has blessed us with more than seminary steak, we still recognize the value of being content with what I might call “right here, right now.”
Paul tells the Corinthian Church about the value of contentment. “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10). Consider the last part of that verse for a moment. Do you feel strong in this season of your life? Maybe all you can see over the mountain of laundry, dishes, toys, and turmoil is the comfort of your bed at the end of the night. You might be working two jobs—the one in the office and the one at home—to help pay the bills while your husband is in school. Many women tell me that it’s exhausting to live in a holding pattern, waiting for real life—the one God truly has ordained for them—to begin. I would ask you to think carefully about what Paul is saying to us as women: when we are weak, only then are we strong.
What does that even mean? Paul suffered greatly for the kingdom, experiencing ridicule, scorn, abuse, torture, and imprisonment. Those ministry years must have been difficult, and yet, he drew strength from those years, knowing that he was exactly where he was supposed to be. He wasn’t sitting around waiting for the “good years” of his ministry to kick off; he knew that God had him right where He wanted him.
The same goes for us, when we look around and wonder when do we get to trade in seminary steak for top sirloin. We should draw strength from where God has us today, and in our weakness, He will make us strong.
