The Secret About Coffee

My life is surrounded by coffee. Literally.

Yesterday, I woke up at 5:30 to go make coffee for other people. This morning I woke up at 6:00 to make coffee for myself. Tomorrow I will wake up at 5:30 and make coffee for other people again. It's just this cycle my life has decided to take.

Actually, this is pretty symbolic of my life right now. One day... I walk into work at Starbucks and I am at the lowest possible place in the work force. Granted, I have only been working there for a month (a month ago today)! So of course it makes sense that I would be emptying out trash cans and washing dishes most of the time instead of making venti salted caramel mocha soy lattes four shots no foam extra hot no whip with extra caramel drizzle extra salt sprinkles and only two and a half pumps of mocha with three and a half pumps of white mocha. (The thought of even making that right now makes my head spin with anxiety). I am absolutely at the mercy of whoever has been working there longer than me (which is almost everyone) and I still have so much to learn.

So one day... I make other people coffee.

The next day... I drive to the school I work at (which is also where I used to go to high school). There, I am no longer at the bottom... but I am on staff with the rest of the teachers. I am an example to the students and hold them accountable to do their work. I have been through high school and I have even been through college (I'm still not over how insane that is by the way...). Not only that, but I am interning with the performing arts director. I get to do what I LOVE! I get to teach the kids how to sing, how to act, how to be an excellent performer... all while pointing them back to the Lord and reminding them why they perform in the first place. So... I basically have my dream job for a couple of days out of the week.

And I start it all off by making myself a cup of coffee.

Tomorrow I'll wake up and make other people coffee again.

Do you see the irony in this situation?

“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 4:11-12

I think this is a very specific and unique season. Those of you who are really close to me know that the last three months have been the hardest months of my life. However, God is slowly bringing me out of that season of mourning and grief into this season of constant change. Of course He would do that... because He knows that I absolutely hate change (whether good or bad). In spite of this, I am daily in this constant state of being “brought low” and “abounding” one day to the next! 

But you know what is crazy? I am finding that it is absolutely possible to be content in the times when we are “brought low.” We may not always be happy there... but following Christ never guarantees happiness. It can, however, bring joy if we allow it. I actually believe that the times we are brought low can be incredibly beautiful because they make the times when we abound so much more sweeter. I don't think I would love teaching kids how to sing as much if I wasn't washing dishes every other day. But then again.. I am choosing to be thankful that I wash dishes every other day.. because that is the job the Lord has provided for me for this specific time in my life. Even that is a HUGE blessing because He has provided so much for me that He never had to provide. While my life has been hard... it really could be so much worse. Yet, even if it was worse, I would still learn to be content because He is my strength.

That's the secret. The Lord is my strength. Not coffee that I make for myself or other people. Not my circumstances. Not my friends or family. He is it!

...But a cup of coffee is still nice to have every once in a while. :)