Devotions from Lisa McMinn’s book, The Contented Soul

“Our ultimate happiness is not found in external circumstances but in a trust that we are made for eternity.” God is present with us now but one day we will be brought into His direct presence. In the meantime we may go through suffering which may allow us to identify with His suffering and the pain that exists all around us. When we experience these times we learn the sufficiency of His grace and come to know Him as our ultimate source of peace. This life is only our beginning and what a future we have to look forward to. We can choose to live joyfully which takes some courage. Henry Nouwen said that the reward of choosing joy is joy itself. If we choose to claim joy hidden in the midst of suffering, life becomes a celebration.  “Joy never denies the sadness, but transforms it into fertile soil for more joy.”  We don’t’ deny the darkness, but we can choose not to live in it. Even a little bit of light can dispel a lot of darkness.

Let us choose joy and a willingness and desire to pursue contentment in spite of our circumstance.