By David ReayFriday 11 Aug 2017LifeWords DevotionalsFaithReading Time: 0 minutes
Transcript:
Read Philippians 4:11
11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. (HCSB)
An old saying goes something like this: Normal daydreamers build castles in the air; neurotic escapists live in them; psychiatrists collect the rent from them.
Many of us are daydreamers. Especially when life gets tough, or when our longings and desires seem far from being fulfilled. We figure it might be good to get out of our present situation and travel in our imaginations to somewhere else. A place or time when things go our way for a change, where people love us for a change, where the sun shines and the birds sing and where thoughts of terror or cancer or divorce or dementia are nowhere to be found.
There is not a lot of harm in having our daydreams. At their best they remind us that while this world has its beauties it is far from perfect and that one day there will be shalom and perfection. Daydreams can put us in touch with our deepest longings which we might bring before God and let him get to work on them.
However, as our text reminds us, we must not live lives of endless complaint about our present circumstances. There is much to be thankful even in the midst of troubles. Racing off to the world of daydreams too readily means we might miss out on what God is doing in our here-and-now world. And we need to recognise that it is in this real and up-and-down world that our God meets us and encourages us. We scarcely need him in our idealised daydreams.
Daydreams are pleasant enough places to visit, but dangerous places in which to live.
Blessings
David Reay