But I Deserve It!

I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.” – Philippians 4:11-12

As I scroll through my Facebook homepage this morning, I am once again reminded that the tornado that hit Union happened five years ago. We commemorate this anniversary not to mark another emotional day in our lives but to celebrate the protection and power that our God provides.

As a student body, we learned many lessons that semester – the power of prayer, the passion for community, and the necessity of flexibility. When I reflect on the weeks following February 5th, I am reminded of one chapel in particular.

Forgive me, I don’t remember the chapel speaker’s name or even what church he was from, I simply remember one word: ENTITLEMENT.

Simply put, entitlement is feeling like you deserve something even when you don’t. The speaker warned us that even though we had suffered tremendous losses, we needed to guard our hearts and thoughts against feeling like we deserved all the donations that we received.

And yet today, it is still hard to remind ourselves of the importance of being in content in what we have – or even more so – what we don’t have.

But the apostle Paul uses himself as an example of how we should strive to think – that whether all is well or whether all is falling apart, he knows how to be content.

Even five years after the tornado, I need God to remind me that whether Kevin and I have plenty or whether we don’t, He is in control and will provide exactly what we need. He is the same faithful God that He showed Himself to be five years ago, and for that, I say thank you, Lord.