Lately, my friends and family have been going through their own ordeals. Many are in pain physically. Some are struggling through money issues. A few are dealing with family anguish. In our daily lives, I see a wide variety of ways we are all dealing with turmoil. There is whining, crying, anger and most often, denial. The world would say, ‘whatever works.’
One benefit of walking through this valley is I am able to reach out to others when they are hurting. How will I do that in good conscious, with others seeing me deal with this on a daily basis if I am discontent and whining, not realizing He is walking through this with me?
It feels like God is teaching me where it is acceptable to be content, and where I need to brawl with discontentment. You cannot buy contentment, marry it, see it, roll it on, eat or drink it, drive it, yet it is something you must have to live a satisfying life. Every day I seem to face this battle. I admit, some days, I have an inner temper tantrum. Why? I am not content. To be content, you have to stop looking around and get on your knees and look up!
Philippians 4:11-13
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 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. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
How may this unbroken contentment be obtained? Paul's description of his own life, gives us a hint as to the way he reached it. He says, "I have learned to be content. It did not come naturally to him, any more than it does to the rest of us, to have peace in the heart, in time of external strife. This beautiful way of living did not come to him at once as a divine gift when he became a Christian. He was not miraculously helped to acquire contentment. It was not a special power granted to him as an apostle.
He tells us plainly in his old age, that he has "learned" it. This means that he was not always able to say, "I am content in any state." This was an attainment of his later years, and he reached it by struggle and by discipline, by learning in the school of Christ, just as all of us have to learn it if we ever do, and as any of us may learn it if we will. Surely everyone who desires to grow into spiritual beauty should seek to learn this lesson. Discontent is a miserable fault. It grieves God, for it springs from a lack of faith in him. It destroys one's own heart-peace; discontented people are always unhappy. Besides all this, discontent casts shadows on the lives of others. One discontented person in a family often makes a whole household miserable. If not for our own sake, we should at least for the sake of others learn to be content. We have no right to cast shadows on other lives.
When we have such trials, why should we not sweetly accept them as part of God's best way with us? Discontent never made a rough path smoother, a heavy burden lighter, a bitter cup less bitter, a dark way brighter, a sorrow less sore. It only makes matters worse. Those who accept with patience what he cannot change, has learned the secret of successful living.
What is contentment? Contentment means an "independence of external circumstances and often means the state of one who supports himself without aid from others." A content person supports himself, does not complain, does not claim victim status, rejoices no matter what, is humble, has enough and displays gratitude. The word indicates an inward self-sufficiency, as opposed to the lack or the desire of outward things. They are self-contained. The content person doesn't need more. He is blessed. He is a person needing nothing, lacking nothing, wanting nothing, desiring nothing, running after nothing. However, our being "self-contained" is not based on human strength, but on the indwelling of Christ. Christian contentment is based on God dwelling within us.
So, how can we be content when things are not fair? How can we be content when nothing is perfect? It is because we have Christ in us. Our contentment is not based on comfort, circumstances, possessions, or other people, but in Christ! God would have us look to Him when we are in pain. It is with God’s mercy and salvation that we have relief from our pain. We may never find physical or mental relief in this life. But, we will surely get it in the next.
May we always turn to the Lord for relief from our pain and may we always look forward to the day when we will finally be in His arms forever.
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