Why joy isn’t about getting more, but starts with what’s already in your hands.
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What’s In Your House? Making the Most of Your Raw Materials
Have you ever stopped to consider that the meaning of life isn’t about acquiring more but about making the most of what you already have? So many of us spend years waiting for a change in circumstances, believing that a new job, relationship, or opportunity will finally bring the joy and fulfillment we seek. But what if we’ve had the raw materials for a beautiful, abundant life all along?
The truth is, real transformation starts in the mind. If we think that happiness is just around the corner, waiting for the perfect moment, we’ll always be chasing ghosts. Instead, we need to take an honest look at what God has already placed in our hands and begin to cultivate it.
The Big Lie:
One of the biggest lies we believe is that if we change our circumstances, we will change our happiness. But happiness isn’t found in the external; it’s found in our perspective. We waste so much time longing for what we don’t have, failing to see the blessings right in front of us.
It’s like that old saying, If you can’t manage ten cents, why give you a dollar? If we don’t learn to appreciate and grow what we have now, how will we handle more when it comes? The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 reminds us that God expects us to use and multiply what He has already given us. When we bury our talents—our skills, resources, and opportunities—we rob ourselves of the blessings He wants to pour out.
The Widow’s Oil: Recognizing Your Hidden Blessings
In 2 Kings 4:1-7, a widow came to the prophet Elisha, desperate for help because she had nothing left. His response? “Tell me, what do you have in your house?” She thought she had nothing, but in reality, she had a small jar of oil—the raw material for a miracle.
With God’s blessing, that oil multiplied, filling every container she could find and rescuing her from poverty. Her breakthrough came when she stopped focusing on what she lacked and started using what she had.
What about you? What’s in your house? What talents, skills, interests, or possessions are you overlooking? How can you cultivate them to bring more joy and fulfillment into your life?
The Traffic Guard Who Made Lemonade
Yesterday, I was driving past an elementary school when I noticed the traffic guard directing cars. But this wasn’t just any traffic guard—he was having fun! Twirling his baton with flair, he turned a seemingly mundane job into a joyful performance.
For most people, standing in the street directing traffic might seem dull or even humiliating. But this man had chosen to make the most of his situation. Instead of focusing on what his job wasn’t, he infused it with enthusiasm, turning lemons into lemonade.
We all have that same opportunity. Whether it’s your job, your home, your relationships, or your resources—there’s always something you can enhance, something you can pour into with joy.
Finding Joy in the Everyday
Life isn’t about waiting for the next big thing. It’s happening right now, in the small moments, the simple joys, and the everyday opportunities we often overlook. If you’re unhappy, frustrated, or stuck in comparison, perhaps you’re focusing on what’s missing instead of what’s already present.
Instead of longing for a new house, turn your apartment into a cozy sanctuary. Instead of waiting for a spouse, invest in the people around you now. Instead of dreaming of a different career, refine your skills and bring passion into the work you already do.
The enemy wants us to believe that contentment is always out there, just beyond our grasp. But God has given us a smorgasbord of blessings—it’s up to us to recognize and use them.
The Mission of Life: Make the Best Lemonade You Can
As I get older, I realize that one of life’s greatest missions is to take whatever lemons we’ve been handed and make the best lemonade possible. We all come into this world with different circumstances, but what if our true calling is to take what we’ve been given and transform it—not just for ourselves, but for others as well?
If you’ve been feeling stuck in a pity party, I encourage you to pause, reflect, and take inventory of the blessings already in your life. There is joy to be found in the little things—the people, the experiences, the creativity, and the beauty surrounding you.
So, what’s in your house? What raw materials has God already given you? Start where you are. Invest in what you have. And watch as God multiplies it in ways you never imagined.
If you are ready to transform your life one morning at a time, I want to invite you to join My Morning Sanctuary membership. The membership blends my morning blueprint and other spiritual disciplines, including guided meditations, prayer, movement, and healing tools to renew your mind and empower your day. Curious to know more? Click Here.
