“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12,13

I’ve always enjoyed the artwork of Mary Engelbreit, particularly the picture of a girl watering her window box flowers under the title “Bloom where you are planted.”  I could relate to this saying as I was growing up, since we moved an average of every year and a half with my Dad’s job in the railroad. We never had time to get tired of living in any one place before we had to uproot our home and plant it somewhere else!
 
The ministry is not always like that.  Regardless of where you are or how long you’ve been there, discontent can plague us as we daydream of another location that seems ideal from our viewpoint - someplace warmer or closer to family? Maybe it’s the desire to serve a bigger church with that Lutheran grade school for your kids. Perhaps you owned your own home before and now you’re back in a parsonage- with shag carpeting!  Your members are too needy, the weather is too hot, the organist plays as slow as molasses, family is too close and now they won’t give you your space. We may find our bloom wilting as our discontent worsens. Is there a cure for this discontent?
 
Paul assure us there is! It didn’t come naturally for him. He had to learn. He learned the circumstances didn’t matter. The source of his strength, his being content no matter what, came from Jesus! Jesus is our source of strength too! We know that Jesus loves and cares for our family. He will provide for us even when the kids don’t have a Christian school to attend. He blesses us with a church family when our relatives live far away. He loves the praise we give him through song apart from the slow tempo. When we’re in the Word, we are reminded of Jesus’ sacrificial love for us. The outward circumstances aren’t cause for discontent anymore. We can do anything through Christ who gives us strength! He allows us to “bloom where we are planted”. 

Ask The Lord
Lord Jesus, source of the living water, nourish our hearts and minds to be content wherever you have placed us in your earthly kingdom, knowing that you have provided for our greatest need - our loving Saviour. Amen.