As many of you know, Katie and I have been wrestling with our housing situation for quite some time now. In the last sixteen months, we’ve moved house three times: down to a rental in Oak Park, back to the house we owned in Wheaton, then to a new place in Wheaton just recently, after we (finally!) sold our house in Wheaton. It’s been an exhausting and, admittedly, at times, very frustrating process. Just recently, in fact, this past Friday, we decided to move ahead with putting an offer on a house back in the Oak Park area, only to receive word a half-hour later from our realtor that the house had just been sold earlier that day!
We’ve prayed all the while for God’s grace to sustain us in the midst of these several transitions; and we’ve prayed repeatedly for the Lord to open up the right opportunity for us. We’ve prayed, you might say, for felicity – for the hand of Providence to orchestrate for us happy circumstances. And we’ve done so unabashedly, knowing there’s nothing wrong with praying this way.
However, I was challenged this morning by reading the following comments by the English Puritan, William Jenkyn. His words were a reminder to me to always seek favor over felicity: the blessing of God over God’s blessings. And should God choose to supply us with the blessings for which we hope, then praise God. But should he not, or at least not in the way we were anticipating, then let the favor of God nonetheless be our chief desire and source of joy.
May these words similiarly encourage and challenge you.
Let nothing please or satisfy you, but the light of God’s countenance and do so receive from God here, as that you may be received to God hereafter. Desire not gifts, but mercies from God; not pebbles but pearls, and always labor for that which God never bestows but in love. Luther, when he had a rich present sent to him, professed with a holy boldness to God that such things should not serve his turn. Always desire the favor of God rather than outward felicity. O desire from God that your portion may not be in this life, but that what you enjoy here may be a pledge of better things hereafter.
2 comments ↓
The comment is a great encouragement to me as an adult having come to an true understanding of the immeasurable value of God’s favor only through the suffering (lack of felicity) endured in my life. However, as a parent I am very challenged, because as a mom, I want to protect my kids from the sufferings I faced, but at the same time desire nothing more than for my kids to truly value the favor of God. Will I make it harder for them to value the favor of God, by shielding them too much from hardship.. where is the right place on the spectrum?
This is a great question, Beth. And I’m not sure there’s an clear answer as to the right place on the spectrum. That’s one of those balances or tensions we as parents must live with and constantly wrestle with. Consistent prayer for wisdom, biblical vision and values, and conversation with other godly parents will no doubt help us each navigate a good course.
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