Contentment And Courage!

August 18, 2026

Contentment And Courage!

“The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.”

 Psalm 37:18-19

Over one million acres burned in wild fires in western Nebraska in the spring of 2026. The fire burned mostly grass used for raising cattle. I have seen wild fires before. Sometimes a wild fire will burn slow enough that most of what is consumed is the dead grass left from the previous growing season. 

This wildfire was different; it was a hot fire driven by the wind! At one point, the wind fanned the flames into a wall of fire traveling 30 miles per hour. The result was the fire burned not only the dead grass left from the previous season, the fire also burned the crown of each plant. Much of the grass was destroyed by the wind-driven fire!

Most of the one million acres that burned was in an area in which the soil has a high sand content. If the wind started blowing before the spring rains came, the fire damage to pastures would be greatly compounded. The blowing sand would also cut down any sprouts of new plant growth. In some areas, there could be blow-outs that may not recover plant life for years.

If you are in the cattle business in western Nebraska where the wild fires inflicted damage, it is probably a bit of a stretch to feel content right now. What if it does not rain? What if the winds come? What if the grass does not come back? What if there is not enough feed for the cattle this summer or next winter? What if…???

With all the uncertainty, it is difficult to be content. Your livelihood as well as the generations-long family history invested in your ranch would not feel secure right now. It is difficult to feel content when there does not seem to be enough. It is even more difficult to act with courage when there is so much uncertainty.

In Psalm 37:18-19 David writes; “The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.” First, we can have courage when we remember the Lord God knows our days.

The Lord God knows our days of abundance and our days of too little. 

The Lord God knows our days of plenty and our days of charred pastures.

The Lord God knows our days of confidence and our days of fear. 

The Lord God knows our days of contentment and our days when we lack the Lord God’s peace.

The Lord God knows our days of great courage and our days when anxiety paralyzes.

The Lord God knows our days of doubt and our days of deep faith in the Lord God.

It is clear the Lord God knows our days…all of our days and each of our days.

Second, even when it seems there is too little the Lord God provides abundance. It is interesting that David says; “…in the days of famine they have abundance.” David puts two words that do not fit together in the same sentence; i.e., “famine” and “abundance.”

In the seasons when everyone seems to have too little to eat or when the land produces too little to provide or when contentment seems to be too small when our circumstances are difficult or when courage seems to be too insufficient to take the next step or when there is no clarity about the direction we are to go, the Lord God gives us a promise through David.

David reminds us that even “…in the days of famine they have abundance.” To trust there is abundance in a season when there seems to be too little for too long can be difficult.

If there is not enough money to pay the rent or the utilities or the car loan, it is difficult to trust I am living in a season of abundance.

If there is no friend on whom I can lean or family member who lives close enough to visit or church family with whom I feel connected, it is difficult to trust I am living in a season of abundance. 

If there is no real peace or real joy or real love filling my heart, mind, and soul, it is difficult to trust I am living in a season of abundance.

If there is no answer to my prayers or no movement of the Holy Spirit or no provision by the Lord God, it is difficult to trust I am living in a season of abundance.

In these seasons, you can find it a challenge to be content or to act with courage. The Lord God offers us words of comfort as well as words of encouragement. The Lord God calls us to be content and to have courage. Here are a few examples.

In Deuteronomy 31:6 we hear; “Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.”

In Joshua 1:9 the Lord God says; “I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

In Psalm 27:14 we hear; “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

In John 16:33 Jesus says; “I have said this to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution, but take courage: I have conquered the world!”

In I Corinthians 16:13 Paul writes; “Keep alert; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”

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.”

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.”

The Apostle Paul reminds the church in Philippi that no matter what the need, they can be content. If my need is finances, health, food, faith in Jesus, shelter, love, clothing, acceptance, safety, friendship, security, respect, belonging, freedom, self-confidence, etc., I can be content and I can have courage.

I can be content when I choose to trust the Lord God’s love for me and presence with me and provision for me. Like David and Paul, no matter what my circumstances I can choose to be content in the Lord God and I can choose to approach my life with courage.

This season of your life might seem pretty hopeless. You can feel helpless and afraid as well as confused and lacking in faith in the Lord God. David reminds us that even “…in the days of famine they have abundance.” 

Even when I feel there is not enough of something I need, even when I feel there is too much struggle or trouble for me, and even when I feel the Lord God is not responding to my prayers, the Lord God promises me abundance.

In John 10:10 Jesus says; “The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” When we live in a trusting and loving relationship with Jesus, He promises to give us an abundant life; i.e., a life in which we know peace and joy and love as we live with contentment and courage.

Reflect

Describe a season when you felt a lack of contentment and courage in your life? What did you do to find hope and help during that season? How did your faith in Jesus assist you during that season? Describe some ways in which your trust in, dependence upon, and love for Jesus grew deeper.

Pray

Lord God, life is going pretty well for me and my family right now. However, I am aware there are others who are suffering great loss or great fear or great uncertainty right now. I know you can and will provide for them in your time and in your way.

Lord God, I ask that you reveal your loving and strong presence to them in a way they can recognize and embrace. Lord God, I request that you provide for them in ways they cannot even ask or imagine or dream. 

Lord God, I thank you for your loving presence and your abundant provision for those whose hearts are filled with a lack of contentment and a lack of courage. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Act

Write down the name of a friend who is lacking contentment and/or courage right now. Pray for them each day for the next 10 days asking the Lord God to reveal His presence and provision for them. Invite your friend to coffee so you can offer a word of encouragement from your experience of being restored and from Psalm 37.