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Lastly, remember that no matter what we are doing in “word or deed” that we are to do everything in the name of Jesus, being thankful to God for all He’s done for us (Col. 3:17). And whenever you feel like your serving doesn’t make a difference or isn’t really helping, remember that as long as we are serving the Lord, our “labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58). May we all seek to serve the Lord together in whatever tasks He has prepared for us to do! Let us “Practice Greatness” together...and be the servant of all!

Take stock in your life and see if you are striving with all the energy the Lord provides you, as Paul did. As you look at the teachings of Scripture, does your “striving” line up with what it should? If not, ask the Lord to strengthen you to seek more and more after things that He desires and less for what you desire. Then watch as His desires become yours!

As you see and experience brokenness in your life (and we all will), how will you respond? My encouragement to you is to allow God’s Word and God’s people to be sources of comfort to you, as they have been to me. Turn to God’s Word and find comfort in His truths and promises. Turn to God’s people and allow them to minister to you. I still feel the heartache. I’m sure I will for a time. But the aches will soften. The breaks will heal. My heart will be okay...because it belongs to Jesus and he will help me.

Maybe you’ll find that you occasionally need a smaller, more specific sabbatical. Something like...putting your phone down, turning off the news or stepping away from social media. It could be taking a break from something in your life that takes up time that isn’t a bad or sinful thing, but it complicates your life because of the time that it takes. Maybe give that thing a break for a season. Both of these types of sabbaticals are important. Both are seen in Scripture for us to learn from. So ask yourself...do you need a sabbatical? Do you really know Jesus and the rest he gives? Do you physically need a break from something in some way? I encourage you to seek more of Jesus through his word. Seek to understand to a greater depth the rest that he freely gives. And also to physically rest up a bit as well. Be thankful for the different types of rest that God gives us and practice both of them, one spiritual and one physical, for all of your days.

These are excellent reminders to us of how we are to live as we wait patiently for Jesus to come back. As Scripture teaches, no one knows when that day will be, but it will come. It may be in your lifetime, or it may not be. “Soon” will become “now” someday and the trump shall resound and the Lord will descend and we will all say it is well with our souls!

There is so much wisdom to be gleaned from God’s Word. It brings clarity to confusion. Theology to our thinking. Principles to our perspectives. Empathy to our emotions. All the while, guiding us towards God’s perfect righteousness and preparing us for every good deed! Let me ask you again...is Scripture ALONE your final authority? If yes, then dig deeply into it and seek answers and guidance in all areas of your life. If you are unsure about that, or your answer is no, I urge you to no longer allow other things to have that place of final authority in your life and turn to the wisdom and knowledge of Christ that has been given to us in God’s precious Word!

So as you may be struggling to find contentment during this season of our lives, consider these reminders from Scripture that will help us to battle to be content. God is good. He is working. He has plans that will not be thwarted. He loves you. He is preparing you for glory. His blessings are abundant every day. Our time is short on this earth, don't get caught up loving this place and finding yourself just wanting more and more and more. This world and its offerings will never bring contentment. Only Jesus does that! Seek after Him.

All of these truths and challenges for and to us are all rooted in Jesus and who he was, what he became and how he lived, as he utterly humbled himself in order to please and glorify the Father. May we all seek to love and honor him by striving together to be like him, and may Jesus get all of the glory for it!

Whether it’s over politics, social issues, vaccinations, points of preference, etc. There are so many things that the enemy can use to divide us. Our Lord and Savior commands us to strive to maintain what he purchased for us on the cross. I encourage you to take that seriously and find the blessedness that comes when we find brothers dwelling together in unity!