It was March 8, 1990, and I was on the tail end of my fourth year of teaching at The Linfield School down in Temecula, CA.
I loved my job, my students, the school. Confidence that I had found my niche in life was growing. On that day the newly appointed Headmaster called me into his office — it was time to discuss contract renewals. He asked me to sit down and then said, “Chuck, I don’t have a position for you next year.”
I thought I misunderstood him so I had him repeat it. He did — then assured me the layoff was not related to performance or commitment. A change in the curriculum dictated the decision.
I sat there stunned, thinking to myself “What about my four years of hard work? My family? Our house?” Little did I know that March 8th was only the beginning of a lengthy series of trials — none of which, by themselves, was devastating, but put together they became a heavy burden; the cumulative weight of these challenges gradually began weighing me down.
By the end of the school year I still had no job prospects, trials and troubles abounded, and I found myself in the faculty parking lot crying out to God, discouraged and confused. Then, from “out of nowhere,” a thought popped into my brain: “How would you be feeling right now if all these problems were solved?”
“Why, I’d feel great!” said I to myself. On the heels of that thought came a familiar verse of scripture: Philippians 4:4,“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
The moment the Lord brought this verse to mind I realized why I was so weighed down and discouraged: I was depending on circumstances for my security, contentment, and joy. When Paul says to “rejoice in the Lord” he means, “Find your assurance and contentment in Jesus.”
Joy is the absence of worry; peace regardless of our circumstances because our confidence is in the Lord who works all things together for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).
Joy and happiness are not the same! “Happiness” comes from the word happenings and is emotions based on circumstances. Happiness therefore is superficial and temporary because circumstances change: Jobs end, health changes, new cars wear out, people disappoint us. Happiness, like joy, is a gift from God. We simply need to know the difference.
Bishop William Quayle (1860 -1925), awake at night because of fruitless worrying, heard God say to him, “Quayle, you go to bed; I’ll sit up the rest of the night.”
God knows what’s been troubling you. Remember: Joy is the absence of worry; peace regardless of our circumstances because our confidence is in Jesus! Take your burden to Him — and leave it there! He IS going to work everything out for your good and His glory!
