As an indie author just starting out, I am thrilled when my books pay for themselves. I am very much in the ‘struggling author’ phase of my journey, and that’s okay. However, it can make me start to stress out when I think about Christmas and buying gifts for my children.
However, that is not what Christmas is supposed to be about. God provides for me and my family with our daily needs, which is both what Jesus prayed in the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and also what is mentioned in Proverbs 30:7-9 (ESV):
Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove farm from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
My husband makes enough money for us to live on, and I should be content with that. This does NOT mean I should give up my dream and my calling of writing, but in this season of life, I need to content with where I am.
I am learning and growing as an author. My books are starting to pay for themselves, which is a huge next step! I am excited about the process. Since resigning from my ‘day job,’ I can now focus on my writing.
Matthew 6:25-26 (ESV) says, “… do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
God provides. He is the good Father. He may not give us everything we want, but He will give us everything we need.
Sometimes what we need is hardship. These times of difficulty are meant to draw us closer to God.
Sometimes what we need is plenty. During these times, we can turn our blessings into praise.
No matter where we are, we can turn to God and be content with what He has given us.
As Paul says in Philippians 4:12-13: “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
How can you learn to be content? Take your eyes off the world and what the world may offer, and turn your eyes toward Jesus. I encourage you to take what you do have and praise God for it.