When Plans Fail, God's Purpose Prevails: the Source of Your Contentment
From missed deadlines to renewed passion
Five different sets of wonderful, beautiful company came to our home over the last two months. Rich, edifying conversation and connection around our table tarried us to the Giver of the well that cannot run dry.
They blessed us.
The Lord said as we built our home: Your home is a gift. Gift it to others. Share it freely.
But with all this time around the table, God heard my lament:
You have not received this newsletter as promised.
I chastised myself for not meeting self-made deadlines, outlines, and expectations.
Above this clamour, God’s still, small voice was heard:
You are living your message.
Does anyone else feel silly when God whispers the obvious?
But also relieved. And loved?
Hugged?
He so gently lifts your chin and speaks into your regret.
With just the right encouragement that you need to reignite your passion.
You are living your message - by hosting, feeding, and serving Me when you serve your guests.
For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. Matthew 25: 35 NLT
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me.’ Matthew 25: 40 NLT
Sobering.
Yet isn’t your next breath a release to a more restful place? When you realize you didn’t fulfill your plan, but you did live out your purpose.
A friend further encouraged with this —
Jesus lived His message
The draw to Jesus is that He lived it. Imagine if He taught His message of unconditional love but did not love without condition, care for the poor, and feed the hungry? I believe He warned us against such folks.
If you and I sacrifice our greater calling to fulfill our specific calling instead, we will no longer bear His image.
If you and I sacrifice our greater calling:
to love God and love others,
to serve others, your family, and friends
to show and share His fruit,
so He is Glorified and those searching, see Him. Find Him.
— to fulfill our specific calling instead,
which for me is:
to write for you,
to bring His nourishment to you
— we will no longer bear His image.1
Our well will be dry, and the message forced, not sourced from the overflow of His love.
You are Living Your Message
If the busyness of serving those around you disrupts your plans to work on your specific calling, be encouraged: you are living your message.
You are loving God and loving others. Your fulfillment of His plan and your purpose.
And, you are nourishing what He has specifically called you to do.
Your Source of Contentment
My hope for you is not to have a Contented Table because you find a new tip or strategy here that makes things easier for you. My hope for you is that you source your contentment from the One who refreshes with living water. And Whose well never runs dry2. The tips are to encourage you, but are not foundational.
So please see this newsletter inconsistency not as a disrespect for you, but as,
an intermission to live my message, and bring you the overflow.
That, I can promise.
The next two months’ posts will be more sporadic than consistent, as the message-living continues. And because of that, I am pausing paid subscriptions.
If I had planned this post, you would see an attempt at capturing perfect pictures of these moments with our company. Instead, a sample memory for you of our typical gathering around our table. These are the best ones anyway.
Un-perfect photos are more my approach now. When social media is smaller in your life, you find you just want to secure the sweetness of the memory.
Imperfect pictures are your future reminders of the blessing of today.
Join me in capturing imperfect table memories. Share one if you like.
Thank you for pulling up a chair to The Contented Table. I am so glad you came.
Invite a friend for next time. There is always room for one more.
Until then, a gentle reminder,
God wants you to know:
I see you, I hear you, I love you.
Jane
The writers’ calling concept was gleaned from the Writers’ Circle Podcast, by Will Parker Anderson, Episode: “Andy Patton: Are You Called to Write a Book? (Part 1)”
See The Samaritan Woman, Luke 4:1-26
Thank you, Jane, for this much-needed reminder! 💞