If Only

If only I get this new job, our worries will be over. If only I lose all this weight, I would be happy. If only my baby get through this illness, nothing else will matter. If only, I get past the next big thing, whatever that thing might be, I'm be fine. 

Only you weren't really OK, you were just relieved until the next thing came along. Your baby got better but you were still unemployed. You got the new job but your outgo increased. You lost the weight but never found the happiness it was supposed to bring. Every time you get over one hill, you are soon faced with another or, as Elvis sang, "This Time You Gave Me a Mountain."

Regardless, if your happiness hinges on being trouble free, you won't be experiencing any consistent amount of happiness. We live in a fallen world where things are broken and troubles abound. We tend to be in a fix, coming out of a fix or fixin' to go into a fix. If we can't learn to be happy and content when things aren't perfect, we are doomed to a life of discontent. 

The Good News, however, is that we can "learn the secret of being content in any and all circumstances" (Phil 4:11).  The Holy Spirit revealed it through the writing of the apostle Paul, "I can do all this [be happy whether times are good or bad] through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13).

Do you remember Jesus' call to the "heavy burdened"?  He called them to get in his "yoke" (Matt 11:28-30). It was in being yoked with him instead of alone that the "burden is easy and the yoke is light."  You are already in a yoke, pulling it by yourself and that can be overwhelming. But when you get in the yoke with Christ, you know you are going to make it with His strength 

Knowing you will make it by the power of Christ, regardless of what you may have to good through allows you to be content and "rejoice always" (Phil 4:4).   No ifs ands or buts. Jus' Sayn.