Contentment Comes

Mary read early that morning from two translations of the Bible. One said: “Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress" (Ps. 4:1). The other translation said: “You have relieved me in my distress”. It caught Mary’s attention and so she sought the commentaries meaning for this verse. It indicated that the person speaking was pressed or confined and knew not how to escape and God interposed and gave him room so he felt free.
Mary thought to herself:” I see the last few weeks the gift of freedom as you showed me in revelation how fear had entered in and I was paranoid about spending due to focusing on the law of budgeting and finances rather than trusting you. It has been with great relief I have begun to enjoy living again. I have even bought extra Christmas decorations at the St. Vincent de Paul. Robin came with me and we found a beautiful big blue star that we hung outside. Robin had to modify its electrical workings so we could place it high above the upstairs window in the elements. It was on for half price for $3.50. It was an awesome deal at $7 and so we felt ecstatic at this and our other little purchases.”
Mary had indeed been set free and felt God had also given her a measure of contentment – something she prayed for - for years and years. Partially Mary felt this came as a result of God putting a desire in her heart to be thankful. She had awoken early on the American Thanksgiving morning and felt a voice inside here urge her to praise God. Obediently she had done it quietly in her prayer closet, then on the way to work with Robin and later she wrote a list of all the things in her life she was grateful for.
Equipped with her list Mary took a run over to the little church which opened its doors between 12 and 1pm for prayer. As she sat down to offer up some prayers of thanksgiving Mary was interrupted by the minister: did she need prayer? Mary thought about it for a long moment before answering: “Not really. Today I am here just to give thanks. I am always asking God for things so today I am just going to praise and bless him. If you would like to do that you are welcome to but I have nothing I would like prayed for.” The young minister looked a bit surprised but afterwards, as she prayed silently, she overheard the pastor praising and thanking God. Mary smiled.
Later that day, throughout making dinner, and doing her chores Mary showed her appreciation to God with songs and words of exaltation. Mary found herself filled with peace and joy and a new contentment that evaded her these many weeks and months overwhelmed her. Suddenly Mary realized she was completely indifferent about whether she moved or not. If she stayed or departed, it was of little consequence. She found this quite interesting and could only put it down to what God had been doing within her between showing her the fear she had acquired and putting it in her heart to be grateful. It didn’t much matter. What did seem significant was that she no longer cared if they ever moved. God would supply their needs where ever they were and if they were to stay in this house that was just fine. And if God didn’t see fit to look after their needs then there would be a message and a lesson in the trial that they would face.
Mary was grateful that Sunday morning as she and Robin drove off to church. She had been set free in so many ways lately. As she drove along considering the early morning readings she felt a warmth and reassurance for indeed, God had enlarged her space and relieved her distress of these last months and days.