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“The Lord will guideyou always: he willsatisfy your needs ina sun-scorched landand will strengthenyour frame. You willbe like a well-wateredgarden, like a springwhose watersnever fail.”— Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)When I think of the advancements that have takenplace in the world since my birth, I am amazed. In earlieryears, Ken and I took our children to Disneyland andvisited Tomorrow Land. I was awed at the proposed futuretechnology. Today, most of us now use the technologythat was predicted back in the 70s and 80s.Yet, it seems that with the latest technology, peopletoday are more discontented about life than ever before.People don’t enjoy the pleasures and possessions they’vebeen blessed with and are always searching for more.Paul penned a profound statement: “. . . for I havelearned how to be content with whatever I have. I knowhow to live on almost nothing or with everything. I havelearned the secret of living in every situation, whetherit is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.For I can do everything through Christ, who gives mestrength” (Phil. 4:11–13 NLT).The Message says it a little more plainly, “. . . I’velearned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances.I’m just as happy with little as with much, withmuch as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happywhether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. WhateverI have, wherever I am, I can make it through anythingin the One who makes me who I am.”As a child, I found myself not being content with thestage of life that I was in at the moment. Being a veryindependent child, I anxiously awaited the time that Iwould learn to drive and not have to depend on anyonefor transportation. In the state of Texas at that time,the legal driving age was 14 if you took a driver’s educationcourse. I signed up the minute I qualified and begandriving at 14. In looking at children now, I shudder tothink that I was driving in the summer following 8thgrade.After finally accomplishing what I had longed for, Ifound that I didn’t enjoy that stage of my life anymore.Instead, I wanted to advance to the next stage of my life.I wanted to get married, have children, and fulfill thecall of God upon my life. When these things began to22 rhema.orghappen in my life and I still wasn’t content, I began torealize that I wasn’t enjoying the different stages of mylife. Instead, I was always waiting for the next big eventto take place. I decided to correct my attitude and enjoylife as it passed me by.I want to encourage you to do the same. The worldhas taught us that life is about material things. If youcan become big enough, respected enough, rich enough,powerful enough, you will be content and happy in life.However, material possessions alone do not bring youpeace and happiness. Some of the most miserable peoplein the world are able to purchase everything this worldpossesses. A relationship with God is the only thing thatbrings peace and contentment in a person’s life.A man in his 80s was asked, “If you had one word ofadvice for young people, what would it be?” “Don’t hurrythrough life,” he replied. “I hurried through life. I wasalways in a hurry to get to the next thing. I just knewthat something better was waiting for me. When I wasin my forties, I realized that there had been good thingsto enjoy in every stage of my life. But I missed thembecause I was looking forward to something better.”Let me admonish you: Enjoy life. Enjoy your childrenat the stage they are in now. Enjoy the house you areliving in now. Enjoy the job you have now. Don’t take theattitude: When my kids get to this age, it will be better.Or, when I make more money or get a bigger house, lifewill be more enjoyable. No, enjoy life now! Make it fun.Life is too short not to live every moment to its fullest.Someone once said, “Life is not measured by thenumber of breaths we take, but by the moments thattake our breath away.” Live, laugh, enjoy. Enjoy thephase that you are in. One day you may want that phaseback. Make the best of every situation and be content.You’ll find that circumstances will improve if you willmake God the very center of your life.