Strange how life presents itself to us. New schools, friends, jobs. All the while, we look for satisfaction and happiness. Occasionally we find it. It lasts for a short while. Obstacles and problems seem to wait around each corner. You find a job, buy a car, meet a friend or two, fall in love. And then, your job ends (company closes or you get fired), girlfriend thinks your best friend is cuter which brings the end to a friendship and a sweetheart. Contentment has eluded you once again. All of a sudden your world collapsed and took away your hopes for the future. To top it off, your car was stolen. Who would steal a car like mine? Maybe leaving the keys in the ignition was to blame.

Expecting life to satisfy our needs and bring contentment is an illusion. Life as we know it presents human efforts minus the life-changing redemption of Jesus Christ. Faith in Christ brings absolute forgiveness, all sins washed away, contentment through our faith.

According to the apostle Paul, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” Book of James, chapter 1, verse 12.