Contentment!

January 11, 2023

Contentment!

Being content does not come easy for me.  I struggle to feel satisfied.  I don’t linger in celebrating a win.  I find it difficult to feel finished.  I believe there must be more.  I know there has to be more than what I am experiencing right now.

I don’t focus a whole lot on the past.  The victories and the defeats or the great joy and the even greater disappointments or the deep love and deep losses don’t hold me for long.  Instead, I am looking for the next victory, the next joy, and the next love.

I am always looking for what could be today or even tomorrow.  There is very little desire (and precious little time!) to linger in the now.  I am oriented to the future where I believe the Holy Spirit is about to do His next great thing!  I want to see what Jesus is revealing next.

It’s hard for me to be content…to be at peace…to be at rest in what is right now.

So when I read the Apostle Paul’s words in II Corinthians 12, I know I still have room to grow.  In II Corinthians 12:10 Paul writes; “Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.”

The context for Paul’s words is Jesus’ eventual response to Paul’s unanswered prayers for healing and deliverance and release.  Instead of a physical healing, Jesus gives Paul a spiritual promise that God’s grace will always be sufficient. 

Paul discovers when he trusts that God’s grace is sufficient that he is content no matter what his present circumstances.  I like what Paul writes because it challenges me to know the peace and contentment and the rest that only the Spirit can give. 

Like Paul, I long to be content because I trust God’s grace is always sufficient.  However, I am aware that too much of the time I am not content.

I wonder if Paul struggled a bit with being content, too.  He speaks about being content in the sufficiency of God’s grace in his second letter to the church in Corinth as well as in his letter to the church in Philippi and in his letter to a young pastor named Timothy.

In Philippians 4:11 Paul writes; “Not that I am referring to being in need, for I have learned to be content with whatever I have.”

In I Timothy 6:6 Paul writes; “Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment…”

Living a life of holiness focused on Jesus means we are growing more and more into a mind-set of contentment.  It’s not easy for me.  I pray contentment is an easier thing for you than it is for me.

As I reflect on Paul statements about contentment, I wonder if being content is an expression of different dimensions in our relationship with Jesus.  Let me offer a few questions for reflection this week.  I confess that these questions are as much for me as they are for you.

Do I believe Jesus will provide what I need when I need it most?

Do I believe I am welcome in Gods’ presence now and in eternity?

Do I believe God’s grace will be sufficient in my present circumstance?

Do I believe the Holy Spirit will guide me in my next big choice?

Do I believe Jesus is fully aware of what is happening with me?

I wonder if contentment is about having the assurance I am loved and accepted and cared for by my Savior Jesus.  When this assurance is present in my soul, my heart will begin to overflow more and more with delight in the Lord. 

Invite Jesus to give you an even deeper gift of assurance of your salvation and of Jesus’ love for you.  Ask the Spirit to continue growing God’s peace and a God-honoring contentment in your soul.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug