“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13
One of the joys of living in South Carolina is fresh peaches. Something about the warm springs and hot summers brings out the best flavor of this delicious summer fruit. Every year I wait for freestone peaches to be available at Big Smile peaches in a little town about an hour from my house. Often my daughter and I drive through the backwoods together to obtain our boxes of fruity goodness.
This year, however, I was far away from the South Carolina heat wave when the peaches were ready. In fact, I was several states away hiking in the Rocky Mountains when my daughter made the pilgrimage to Johnston, SC for the peaches. Twice blessed, I enjoyed the cool, fresh air of the mountains and came home to a counter full of sweet peaches.
Often in my life I feel pulled and stretched, needing to be in two places at once, wanting to be in both places, struggling to decide how to divide myself. While it is great to be loved and wanted, I need to remind myself that God has a purpose for my life. He is not trying to cut me in two or give me more than I can physically handle. The stretched and pulled feeling comes from inside me, from sometimes trying to do more and be more than God is asking me to do or be.
The truth is God has filled my life with people. People I love. Amazing people, so competent, so eager and full of energy and plans that it is hard not to want to do everything with all of them. But I am just one person, with limited energy and minutes in each day. I cannot do it all. I was not designed to do it all; and I should not do it all. Even when the choices are much harder and deeper than whether to be on vacation in the Rockies or trek for peaches.
The Apostle Paul wrote what we know as Philippians 4 while in prison. Not a nice prison, but a dank, musty, smelly one. He was unable to come and go at will, yet continued to preach the good news of Jesus to all who came to him. He truly modeled and lived contentment despite circumstances; despite being in a situation I’m sure he did not love. I’m sure he wondered why God allowed him to sit in prison instead of standing on a street corner sharing the good news, but God’s purpose for him included prison and preaching to high state officials.
Instead of feeling stretched and pulled and at odds with his situation, Paul learned to be content. He learned to trust that God had a plan for his every moment. Paul leaned into his imprisonment and spoke and wrote and shared the love of Jesus instead of bemoaning his surroundings. Wow is that a hard lesson to learn!
It is also a freeing lesson to learn. I do not have to feel pulled and stretched, or guilty or disappointed when I am leaning into the purpose God has for my life. I can help others see their purpose and drive and ability to accomplish what God is calling them into and it does not always have to include me. God created and designed the larger family of God to work together, each one doing his or her part. Paul’s part was not Peter’s part. The little boy who had the loaves and fishes to share did not have to walk on the water or part the sea but he had a part to play and his simple offering fed thousands.
Learning to appreciate the part God has for you will bring contentment and ease the pressure the world at large may be exerting on you. You can’t do it all either, and you don’t need to try. Rest in the assurance that God will provide what is needed for you to do just what He wants you to do. Some years you may go get peaches, but other years someone else may do it for you.
I found this peach muffin recipe one of the first years we made the pilgrimage to Johnston. It is super easy and delicious. The spices and extracts really add to the flavor. If you are not an almond lover, just omit the almond. Stick with the ginger, however, as it really gives the muffins a zip.
Peach Muffins
- 1 ½ cups Gold Medal flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 Tsp baking powder
- 1 Tsp ground ginger
- 1 Tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 Tsp salt
- 1/3 cup cooking oil
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
- 1 1/2 Tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 Tsp almond extract
- 1 large peach, pitted, peeled and diced
Heat oven to 400* and grease 12 muffins tins.
Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk together. Add wet ingredients and mix well. Pit, peel and dice peaches, keeping any juice to add to the batter. Add peaches and juice to batter, mix well.
Divide batter evenly into the 12 muffin tins. Sprinkle each muffin with cinnamon sugar. Place in 400* oven and bake for 16-20, until golden brown and set. Serve warm with butter.
