This is it, part two

I am thrilled to share today's first guest post on The Well: This is it, part II. The author, Beth Kiker, is a fantastic and godly woman who I am beyond blessed to call my mother-in-law. Beth originally wrote this as a letter in response to This is it (now dubbed "part I" in this two-part series on contentment), but I convinced her to let me share it publicly. I know that you will be blessed and encouraged today as you read her words of wisdom. 

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Karley’s post on contentment, “This is it,” deals with what I call the "value issue" that most women seem to wrestle with at some point in time. In this day and age, it is so important to know the Truth and that what He says is the truth...He IS enough. We must arm ourselves daily with this Word, because unfortunately, the value issue so often becomes a reoccurring struggle.

Although by the grace of God we may experience precious moments of knowing who we are in Christ—a princess, a child of God, a joint heir with Jesus—unfortunately, this doesn't mean these questions of worth and value will not return again and again in the future. In fact, satan is such a clever and devious (fill in the blank), that he will not only bring these doubts back, but will also use others to make us question whether we've done enough, been enough, worked enough, or made the right decision in being on the path we've chosen.  

In my experience, the most innocent question—"What do you do?"—from a stranger waiting in line can have the ability to trigger hours of second thoughts after having answered, "I'm a housewife and stay-at-home mom."  How lame, I begin to say to myself. I should be doing something else, most of my friends work outside the home, the kids are in school most the day, I should have a part-time job, I'm not even using my college degree, and on and on. But here’s the truth: It's not just women who are in this situation. And then there's the flip side of the woman/mom who does have a full-time job, but struggles with leaving before the kids go to school, not being home when the kids get home, not cooking a home-cooked breakfast, lunch or dinner because of work hours, being late or not making it to basketball, soccer, football, baseball practices or games because of work, or being too worn out after working all day to want to do ANYTHING else with her husband or family. That’s a whole other area of feeling inadequate or questioning, “Is THIS it?”

The point is, I know very few women who think their lives are perfect or have been perfect, or feel they have accomplished all they wanted to, or believe they’ve met the expectations that others had for them. But if we can truly be content with where we are at each point in our lives, THAT should be a point of accomplishment in itself.  

By all means, we should continue dreaming and having ambition—but it should all be filtered by the wisdom of God and His plans for us.  This doesn't mean we won't have disappointments or regrets. But you know what? When we look back on our lives, and we measure accomplishment in terms of the lives we have touched and influenced, and the people and activities we have poured our energy and heart into, I believe we will hear that still small voice of Peace and Joy saying, "Well done".

We live in a time of hyped up media and glam. Not every moment in our lives will be super exciting, super romantic, or super special, especially according to the world's standards and views. But like Karley’s blog stated: He is enough, regardless of anything else. If this head knowledge truly becomes heart knowledge for all of us, then we will be well-equipped for this life journey and blessed, blessed, blessed.

"So many things I thought would bring me happiness,

Some dreams that are realities today.

But it's such an irony the things that mean the most to me

Are the memories that I made along the way."

. . .

 

The ultimate Well is Jesus Christ, by whom we as Christians are filled, purified, and poured out over the world as thirst-quenchers and drought-enders. On this blog, The Well will function as a collection zone for spiritually-centered posts. A place where you can click to—prayerfully—be filled as you read God-stories and words of inspiration written by both myself and other contributors.

"...But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

"The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11

"I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." Jeremiah 31:25