In 2021 I chose a “word of the year” for the first time. God began to work in my heart and life at the end of 2020 to take this idea up. I had several friends who had been doing it for years and I wanted to get on board. I figured it would be a intentional way to see God’s hand in a specific area of my life.
In that season I was really struggling. I knew I had a good life, but many things were not going the way I wanted and it was frustrating. So out of all the words in the world God gave me CONTENT.
Before the year even started I knew I was choosing this word because I was lacking in this area, but after the year was complete I have seen my need was greater than anticipated. Choosing a word of the year these past two years has been sprung from a need. An area of lack in my life. Knowing that only God can fill the void, heal the broken, and restore our lives to His good purposes. So the work began. CONTENT 2021.
So I walked into 2021 excited. Ready to work hard to be CONTENT. And work I did. This past year I had three different jobs, lots of seasons of unknowns, and many many many in different lessons in between:
1. Started out the year in my position at St. Gabriel of Athens Assisted Living Community in Marketing. I loved the residents and had made several wonderful friendships there. But it was time to move on. And God made it clear for me. I was laid off from this job in February 2021. So CONTENT took on a new meaning.
2. I was jobless. It was scary but exciting. I was hopeful for what was next. I had applied for my dream job in ministry thinking this is it. This is why God took me out of St. Gabriel. Then I didn’t get the job; And the meaning of being CONTENT grew a little bigger and was a little harder.
3. Then I was offered a job at Crawford Long Pharmacy by the infamous Fred Gurley. This was one of the sweetest small town environments I’ve ever worked in. I had a gracious and incredibly understanding boss, sweet co workers, and a great schedule. But God was still working on me…an unsettling feeling of calling me to something else. But what God? I’m trying to be CONTENT here… To want the things that I already have. Oh this should be easy but it’s not. God was working in my heart calling me out in a kind of way that only God can. A way that doesn’t make sense when you try to explain it to others or even yourself but you know He’s pushing a move. So I resigned at the pharmacy in August and stepped yet again into a season of unknowns. So the lack of CONTENTment, the want for CONTENTment, and the puzzling ways of becoming CONTENT grew. Through my unknowns I saw a greater need for the One who knows all things.
4. Back to a season of no “real job”. There were a lot of brainstorming nights, worried thoughts, and begging the Lord for direction. I was CONTENT with the decision I had made. I was at peace it was the right thing to do, but it was crazy! To quit a good job without knowing exactly what’s next. If you know me at all… this is not in my nature. But God. God was working on me. He still is. So I was able to…but God provided a few small jobs in the waiting to make things work. What really amazed me was how CONTENT I was in the day to day. This did not happen overnight, rather over time and a lot of adjustment. I was growing, learning day by day.
5. On October 1st I created a Facebook page for Gibson’s Goodies. I’ve always loved to bake and have done many different small things in this area over the years, but never as a full time job. So I just went for it…and God showed up. He blessed. He gave me all the business, the orders, and the success. Anything I did “good” at was because of Him. This along with a few side things I still have going has become my full time job. I am so grateful for a loving and supportive community who has encouraged me in these few short months of starting out. Excited to see what the future holds. Baking for others, being at home every day, and staring something that was my own has truly brought special kind of CONTENTMENT.
This is a big story of God’s hand in my life over this past year, but honestly it doesn’t even scratch the surface. The prayers prayed in bed at night, the tears cried, the pain, the unknown, the searching, the teaching has been hard. It’s been a refining process. I know my need for Christ is great. Being CONTENT has been a journey. God was merciful and let me end the year is such a sweet spot but I know CONTENTMENT is more then things turning out good. It’s being CONTENT in every circumstance. The ones you like and the ones you are ready to get out of.
Some things I clung to this year:
1 Timothy 6:6-7 “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.”
Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Maverick City Music’s Song “Jireh”… I feel God let this song come out in 2022 just for me!
https://open.spotify.com/track/1goiRWxiG3GTlODrdDZ7NR?si=lJ3RBWu6Q6OMCFTs91sZiw
There were a lot of little things God worked on in me as well as the overall theme on Contentment. He restored relationships, showed my need to extend forgiveness, gave me unique opportunities to praise Him in a group setting, pushed me to grow in areas I did it want to change. He loved me. He cared for me. He drew near.
In the words of Lysa TerKeurst I can truly say: God is Good
God is Good to me
God is Good at being God
So He writes the story, if I surrender the pen or not.
In 2022 I chose my Word to be Surrender, I know God is going to show His glory in my weakness. I look forward to the next chapter.
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