Invitation to Contentment

     We can all find the contentment we seek in any circumstance we face. Join us for today's episode as we look at how to find contentment in gratitude and God's word.

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Transcript

Invitation to Contentment

Welcome to another episode of Rough Places into Level Ground. Today we will be talking about contentment and some of what our Lord’s word tells us about finding it.

 If we think back to Genesis, we see that satan was the originator of discontent. Scripture tells us he was created as an exalted angel with wisdom and beauty, made to serve and honor God. But he was not satisfied, he wanted more, he wanted what God had. When we see satan enter the Garden of Eden he brought discontentment and used it to tempt Adam and Eve. In the garden Adam and Eve were given everything they could want and need, they had provision in abundance. And yet, satan focused them on the one and only thing they did not have and convinced them they needed it, the fruit of the one and only tree God told them not to eat. And here we see discontent enter the world, and with it the downfall of man.

Every day we face a world that bombards us with advertising that tells us the one more thing we need to be better, prettier, happier, thinner, etc. And if we only had these things our lives would be better and we would be happy and content. Just one more thing and we could have it all. And we can easily spend our lives striving for the things we do not have, striving for that one thing more that will fulfill and complete us and make us happy. 

But here is the good news, the contentment we seek is not out of reach, and it is not found in the one more thing we do not have. Suppose we heard an add that went something like this; Are you tired, run down, feeling like you are always waiting for the other shoe to drop, exhausted in your search not be shook in the circumstances of your life, not to feel so vulnerable in all that threatens your well being and leaves you feeling not good enough, and needing more? Well, look no further, it can be yours, in fact it is promised to you, and all you have to do is claim it! Supernatural peace in any circumstance can be yours! Does it sound too good to be true? That is because it is not of this world, it is of our God. Paul in Philippians 1:7 describes the peace from God as surpassing all understanding. 

There are so many things I could share with you from our Lord’s word that tell us about Him, about our God who cares for us, and wants nothing more than for us to know Him and to walk with Him as he brings us through this world and home to be with Him. But for now, let us look together at what Paul tells us. He tells us in Philippians 4:11-12 that he learned to be content in all circumstances, and that he learned to do this through Christ who strengthens him. The same Christ that strengthens each of us. Paul did not achieve this contentment by his own power but by Christs strength in him. We too can learn to have this strength and contentment by putting ourselves in a position to be transformed by God, and that place is in God’s word. No gimmicks, no products to be bought, true contentment is something we can all possess through Christ.

When we focus on learning who our God is and God’s goodness and not on our circumstances we are filled with gratitude. God tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 this is His will for us. And in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 we are told that our ability to be grateful is a gift from God. So, take a moment and look at all the things you have to be grateful for. And as you feel that gratitude, stop and think, how you are feeling when you are grateful and then realize that that feeling is a gift from God. We cannot control our circumstances, but we can control where we put our focus. In Matthew 6 we also see that gazing at God’s character is the pathway to peace and our contentment. In Matthew we are told, do not be anxious, but first seek the kingdom of God and all we need will be added to us. As we seek God in His word it leads us to know Him and that leads to intimacy with Him which allows us to trust Him and avail ourselves to His peace and joy. 

Let us close by looking at Habakkuk 3:17-19. In these verses, Habakkak tells us that when all around him failed, and there was no fruit on the vine, and the fields yield no food, and there is no livestock, Habakkuk chose to rejoice in the Lord and God who is his strength and makes his feet like the deer’s and makes him tread on high places. When our focus is on God and on all He is and does in our life we then become sure footed in this difficult world. For the times we think all is lost, God’s strength in us will get us through. And in this we can rest. When we learn to trust in and rest in Christ, contentment is what fills us.

It is through our hard times, discontent, temptations, and trials that God is calling us to come closer to Him, to seek Him in His word to trust Him and His love and care for us. In the times of unrest we need to remember we can learn to be content by practicing gratitude, and trusting in all of God’s words and promises to us, by reading His word to us and letting Him speak into our souls and hearts and in doing this He changes us, and brings us to a place where we can be content in any circumstance we face.

As we close today, please join me in prayer. 

Father, thank you for your gift of gratitude, and for our ability to learn to be content in any circumstance. Your word tells us we can do all things through you who strengthens us and that when we are weak your strength will come through us and we can be sure footed and secure in anything we face. Thank you for the gift of contentment. In Jesus name, Amen.