Contentment is not a word that we hear much about today. While it is a true joy to be around someone who lives out the practice of being content, it seems that the
prevailing, underlying emotional current in our culture is predominantly one of discontent. One has only to look
at those in their environment or listen to a nearby conversation to know that people, in general, are not happy with the current state of their life. Oh, they may put on a façade of cheeriness, but if you really listen, you will eventually be able to hear words that speak of the restlessness that’s in their heart.
As a society – and specifically as Americans – we operate under the adage that ‘more is better’ or ‘bigger is better.’ We want more money, a faster/bigger vehicle, a larger home, and invariably, that all-too-elusive perfect romantic love. Too often we spend the majority of our lives working to attain more of just about everything in the hope that once we achieve what we feel is our ideal, we will finally be truly content, completely satisfied and thoroughly pleased with life
at long last. Sadly, once we do achieve what we thought would make us happy, we find that there’s a completely different set of problems that we inherited along with it that leaves us longing more than ever for something other than what we worked so hard to attain; something that will give us true, lasting contentment.
One of the most challenging times, it seems, is when we see the evidence of fulfilled dreams in the lives of others. We want what he/she has and, while we can be happy for them on the surface, there is also that unspoken, deep-seated question as to why our own dreams continue to remain unfulfilled. Before much time has passed, a greater discontentment settles within us
and, if we aren’t careful, resentment begins to grow towards the person who has had their dream fulfilled.
Ecclesiastes 3:11a “He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time.”
This verse can be true for any of us who allow God control of our life. The problem we get into is asking how long it's going to take and then moving forward on our own when we feel that the process is taking too long. Only God can answer how long something will take as everything has its own time. To wait on Him and the time assigned to accomplish the task ensures success.
In the person spoken of above who had their dream made a reality, while we could see the evidence of their dream come true, what we could not see was the agonizing, tear-filled span
of time – be it days, weeks, months or years - that the person spent living in the darkest hours of their soul when they cried out in prayer to God over the unfairness of their situation, or the longing they had for the vision in their heart to be made sight, or of the struggles they had to endure while God molded them into the person they needed to be in order to receive the full measure of blessing that God had for them. Because we didn’t see the painful bleakness and saw instead only the proof of what appeared to be a sudden downpour of blessing in their life, we feel the discontentment of our own situation even more and begin to wonder what’s wrong with us.
The talents we have been given and the hunger for the dreams in our hearts that we have longed to be made realized has been placed there for a specific reason. How many of us are willing to endure a season of emotional isolation from others in a parched, sun-scorched
desert in in order to see our dreams fulfilled? What would you be willing to do to have everything made beautiful in time as stated by God?
Philippians 4:11-13 ”I [Paul] am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him [Christ] who gives me strength.”
First, we need to learn the secret that Paul spoke about of being content in any and every situation. What’s the secret? To resolve [be firmly determined] in your heart to be content regardless of what you see around you. How can we possibly do this? Because God will always give His children everything they need. Period.
2 Corinthians 9:8 “God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.” [Emphasis mine.]
What does the word contentment mean anyway? It’s an inner sufficiency; a satisfaction found through the depth of one’s own life with God independent of our surroundings. Simply put, it’s daring to take God at His word and then relying on Him to do what He has said He will do.
Why would we want to cultivate contentment? Your environment is not evidence as to a limitation to God’s abilities to move you where He needs you to be. You are the only thing that can limit what God can and cannot do in your life. When you live in the contented assurance
of who God is, regardless of the conditions you reside in each day, you can rely fully on Him to lead you into the more beautiful life that He has in store for you.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Are you concerned that your dreams are too big for Him to fulfill? There is no need to worry as His imagination and abilities are larger than we could ever fathom.
Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” [Emphasis mine.]
Second, once you realize that you already have everything you need when you belong to Christ, true contentment will permeate you. You will know that those dreams you have carried in your heart for so long are not only possible, but will, in God’s time, begin to be made a reality as He sends showers of blessings your way.
Isaiah 43:19 (AMP) “Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Let Him do a new thing in your life. The choice is yours. He’s waiting for you.
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
prevailing, underlying emotional current in our culture is predominantly one of discontent. One has only to look
at those in their environment or listen to a nearby conversation to know that people, in general, are not happy with the current state of their life. Oh, they may put on a façade of cheeriness, but if you really listen, you will eventually be able to hear words that speak of the restlessness that’s in their heart.
As a society – and specifically as Americans – we operate under the adage that ‘more is better’ or ‘bigger is better.’ We want more money, a faster/bigger vehicle, a larger home, and invariably, that all-too-elusive perfect romantic love. Too often we spend the majority of our lives working to attain more of just about everything in the hope that once we achieve what we feel is our ideal, we will finally be truly content, completely satisfied and thoroughly pleased with life
at long last. Sadly, once we do achieve what we thought would make us happy, we find that there’s a completely different set of problems that we inherited along with it that leaves us longing more than ever for something other than what we worked so hard to attain; something that will give us true, lasting contentment.
One of the most challenging times, it seems, is when we see the evidence of fulfilled dreams in the lives of others. We want what he/she has and, while we can be happy for them on the surface, there is also that unspoken, deep-seated question as to why our own dreams continue to remain unfulfilled. Before much time has passed, a greater discontentment settles within us
and, if we aren’t careful, resentment begins to grow towards the person who has had their dream fulfilled.
Ecclesiastes 3:11a “He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time.”
This verse can be true for any of us who allow God control of our life. The problem we get into is asking how long it's going to take and then moving forward on our own when we feel that the process is taking too long. Only God can answer how long something will take as everything has its own time. To wait on Him and the time assigned to accomplish the task ensures success.
In the person spoken of above who had their dream made a reality, while we could see the evidence of their dream come true, what we could not see was the agonizing, tear-filled span
of time – be it days, weeks, months or years - that the person spent living in the darkest hours of their soul when they cried out in prayer to God over the unfairness of their situation, or the longing they had for the vision in their heart to be made sight, or of the struggles they had to endure while God molded them into the person they needed to be in order to receive the full measure of blessing that God had for them. Because we didn’t see the painful bleakness and saw instead only the proof of what appeared to be a sudden downpour of blessing in their life, we feel the discontentment of our own situation even more and begin to wonder what’s wrong with us.
The talents we have been given and the hunger for the dreams in our hearts that we have longed to be made realized has been placed there for a specific reason. How many of us are willing to endure a season of emotional isolation from others in a parched, sun-scorched
desert in in order to see our dreams fulfilled? What would you be willing to do to have everything made beautiful in time as stated by God?
Philippians 4:11-13 ”I [Paul] am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him [Christ] who gives me strength.”
First, we need to learn the secret that Paul spoke about of being content in any and every situation. What’s the secret? To resolve [be firmly determined] in your heart to be content regardless of what you see around you. How can we possibly do this? Because God will always give His children everything they need. Period.
2 Corinthians 9:8 “God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.” [Emphasis mine.]
What does the word contentment mean anyway? It’s an inner sufficiency; a satisfaction found through the depth of one’s own life with God independent of our surroundings. Simply put, it’s daring to take God at His word and then relying on Him to do what He has said He will do.
Why would we want to cultivate contentment? Your environment is not evidence as to a limitation to God’s abilities to move you where He needs you to be. You are the only thing that can limit what God can and cannot do in your life. When you live in the contented assurance
of who God is, regardless of the conditions you reside in each day, you can rely fully on Him to lead you into the more beautiful life that He has in store for you.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Are you concerned that your dreams are too big for Him to fulfill? There is no need to worry as His imagination and abilities are larger than we could ever fathom.
Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” [Emphasis mine.]
Second, once you realize that you already have everything you need when you belong to Christ, true contentment will permeate you. You will know that those dreams you have carried in your heart for so long are not only possible, but will, in God’s time, begin to be made a reality as He sends showers of blessings your way.
Isaiah 43:19 (AMP) “Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Let Him do a new thing in your life. The choice is yours. He’s waiting for you.
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
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