Contentment, what's that?



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. Philippians 4:11-12

Have you ever tried to physically push a car backwards up a hill? It could be done but it would be very difficult and it wouldn't be what is best for the car or for us. That is what discontentment feels like. 

 We all hope that our lives will get better, that we will have better jobs, more money, be healthier and happier. If we just had that one thing life we would good. We would be content. 

 When do we accept our lives as they are? When do we say "OK, this is the way things. I will be satisfied and I will make my life as good as it can be with what I have now.?"  

 If our lives remained exactly as they are right now and we knew they were never going to change, how would we go about living?  How would we behave?  Would we make the best of it and try to enjoy what we have? Would be we depressed and just give up? 

 Trusting and really believing that God wants what is best for us and that His timing is perfect would make us content.  

 Do we really believe? 
Do we really trust? 

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Psalm 37:3-5

Most of us say that God is in control of our lives and give Him our problems, but then we jump in and start trying to make them happen. Is this trust? 

 Being full of discontentment is easy to recognize in ourselves. If we can look back on our lives and remember times when we said "All I need is one more dog"  and then we got one.  And then we said "If I just had someone to share my life with" and then we met someone.  Now we are saying "If I could just go live somewhere else." Will we ever be satisfied?

 We should be like Paul and be content in whatever our situation even if we are in jail. I'm sure Paul and Silas were very uncomfortable but they managed to sing and rejoice. Acceptance of where God has place us and seeing the many blessing we have, will bring the contentment that we are seeking by trying to reach all these other things.


God will take care of us and it will be His BEST, not just what is good enough. He may not give us more money or better jobs. He may not move us to a better place at this time. He may not heal us but He has placed us where we are for a reason. .  

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

I'm not saying we shouldn't try to make our lives and those of our family members better.  We are instructed to work as unto the Lord. We want what is best for our families and  God wants what is best for us. Our lives won't always stay the same and if something we want is really what is best for us, God will do it

The more we try to push the car uphill backwards, the less joy and contentment we will have. We will always be stressed out because our plans aren't working.

Here is what we should do. Step out of His way, relax and enjoy the ride the best we can. Stop messing with God's plans. Make the best of what God has given you. Make the most of what we have. Stop living for the next thing and the next and the next. We will drive ourselves crazy trying to reach something we think will make us finally content and we will never be content.

 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

 Plan, hope, wish but be content where we are and wait on the Lord. If what we are trying to make happen isn't happening, maybe it is not the right time.  Be content until the Lord makes it happen. He gives good gifts to His children.

So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.1 Corinthians 7:24


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