A couple months ago, I was driving down the road, alone in my car, on my way to class. I had just left my apartment, and I had plans later that day to hang out with my friends. I began to think about my situation. I found it so odd that long ago I had longed for a day similar to that. I had longed to drive, to go to college, to have my own apartment, and be able to hang out with my friends at free will. I desired that so badly, so why did that moment not feel special? Why did that day feel so normal when long ago that’s a day I dreamed about?

We do that a lot in life, don’t we? We always want the next thing, and when it actually arrives we aren’t satisfied. When we are in high school, we want college. When we live with family, we want to live with friends. When we are single, we want a relationship. When we are in a relationship, we want marriage. We always are wishing for more than we have or what we feel in our mind is the next best thing. When our minds are racing 100 mph making plans, I think we forget to listen to our hearts. We forget the situation we are in, the people we are surrounded by- it’s all writing a story that makes up who we are. And instead of cherishing every word, we are searching for the next chapter. As I get older, and as I grow deeper in wisdom and understanding, I’m learning that we are missing it. We’re missing the laughs. We’re missing the treasures that make people special. We’re missing the value of time.

If we can’t learn contentment, do we ever have a shot at being happy? Our favorite memories are not the times we sat and daydreamed about what was yet to come. Our favorite memories were made when we embraced every second we had, in the moment we were in, with the people we were with. These are the times that make us who we are. These are the moments we reminisce. These are the precious moments God grants us that give us life. And how can we show our thankfulness to God, if we are continually telling Him the things He has given us are not enough?

We can show the Lord our trust in Him by living in the moment He has set apart for you. We can show Him that we don’t need to know what’s next. The more grateful and trusting heart we learn to cultivate, the more joy God can reveal in our lives. We can’t see what He’s doing when we aren’t present. There is so much freedom in trusting Jesus. Give your plans to Him. Find contentment in where he has you at this very moment. Until God opens the next door, praise Him in the hallway.