Joni And Friends Daily Devotional 12th December 2024, Tuesday Message
TOPIC: Detours
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34
There’s an old saying that goes, “A contented man is the one who enjoys the scenery along the detours.” We usually think of detours as interruptions in an otherwise well-charted path. True, detours can be viewed as problems that slow us down (we learned that yesterday). However, sometimes the detour involves not problems but people. In order to build contentment, God places people in our path, but God never considers people to be interruptions.
For instance, my eighty-four-year-old mother came to California to visit Ken and me years ago. Arthritis and a heart condition had shortened her stride, so I had to set aside all the deadlines, the demanding appointments, and the commitments screaming for my undivided attention, so I could keep in step with her. She was not an interruption; she was more important than all my commitments stacked together.
For weeks I was on a detour. But I was enjoying the scenery along the way. That’s saying something for me! I live with my wheelchair in high gear. The staff meetings and production schedules worried about themselves. For those weeks I measured my days more slowly. The secret of being content is to take one day at a time. Not five years or ten but one day. Just as God provided the manna that fell fresh from heaven each morning, he supplies the needs of his children with the dawning of each day. “His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22-23).
My eighty-four-year-old mother was my reminder of this wonderful truth. What person has God placed in your life to remind you to be content?
PRAYER: There are people in my life, Lord, who slow me down. Help me not to be anxious or worried about that. Help me to be content to live at their pace.