Craving Contentment
In a world where we feel like it is impossible to keep up with the Jones’s, having the next best thing, or being known to everyone, have you ever wondered why? It’s only natural to want what we want. To see what others have and think “Oh that would be nice.” It’s natural, but not what we were meant for. We weren’t meant for that but we were meant for more.
If you know me, I am a wanter. I want to travel, I want to have a family, I want to be known by others, I want more. It’s funny to think about all the things that might be nice to have and one of the last things that I think about is contentment. At least until a few days ago. This post was inspired by a Sermon a dear friend sent to me about contentment. I had just sat down to do my daily quiet time and just then she texted me this sermon. It was perfect timing (that’s how God is, though). I watched and began to think about all the things I seem to not be thankful for. Weird right? You would think the opposite would have happened, but just hear me out.
Taking it for granted
Do I thank God for all I have? Do I thank God for being stuck at home? Do I thank God for my 1000 square foot apartment that’s running out of space? What about the fact that I am able to spend more time with my husband than many other people get to with theirs? No, I take it for granted. It’s a confession, I am thankful for all these things but it doesn’t come across this way as I desire more. I want to live in a house, I want to be able to go to the beach, I want more time. I want to know what the fall holds for education. FILL IN THE BLANK. But what the sermon taught me without explicitly spelling it out was the why behind it. Why was I wanting more? Well, it’s simple. Like I said we were meant for more. Just not more things.
Discerning Discontentment
Discontentment comes from wanting more of what we don’t have and placing our joy and happiness in those things. It really comes down to where your hope is found. I am hoping for a new car. I am hoping for a new house. I am hoping for a family. I am hoping to go to my classroom. You can replace hoping with wanting and it means the same thing. It’s not bad to want those things, but its not where your hope should be.
” And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident HOPE of salvation. And this HOPE will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” -Romans 5:4-5 (with emphasis)
Our hope is in salvation and our confidence in the fact that God loves us so very much. It’s so much easier to say than to live out, I mean who wouldn’t want more Saturdays or money in the bank. But our hope can’t be placed in those things that are likely to fail and disappoint you. We have a gracious God who gives us his love and hope regardless if we don’t deserve it.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Honestly, we are all sinners. All we deserve is death. It is only by Christ love that we have anything different or better.
Containing Contentment
How do we get this contentment, really? Well its a mix of putting our hope in our Lord and realizing everything we have, including the things that we think are our right, are really extra blessings. Have you ever been given something by someone who didn’t have to get you anything? It’s not Christmas or your birthday (the days we feel like it’s our right to have presents) but they just give you a gift. Well as the loving Father that God is, He spoils His children every single day with breath in our lungs, people to talk to, a roof over most of our heads, two legs, and the list is endless. Contentment is a mindset and a lifestyle. When you think and live like everything doesn’t have to be given to you, you begin to treasure those things. If someone just came over to your house and brought you food would you complain about it and want something else? Then why do we do this with God, who gives good and perfect gifts.
Now contentment is very difficult to obtain and impossible on your own. It’s only by God’s grace that we can know true contentment. The reason we have trouble still with contentment is the world tells us to want more and they put out the next best thing for you to buy into it. Well, lets let the Holy Spirit show us that God is far better than anything and everything that this world can offer.
Let’s say you have everything money can buy. Do you have lasting Joy, Peace, and Contentment? What if you are still wanting more? Maybe money can’t buy what you need, but finding it in a Holy and Loving God.
I don’t want to keep up with the Jones’s, I don’t want the next best thing. I want true contentment that can only be found with our Gracious King, Jesus!
Contemplating Contentment
Here are some questions that will get you thinking why you may not be feeling that contentment that you are looking for and how we can truly appreciate all that we have.
- What are you wanting? What has inspired you to want it, does someone else have it?
- Look around. Make a list of at least 10 things that you see or use everyday without even thinking about how they are blessings? Ex: toothbrush, bed, dishes, etc.
- What have you complained about recently and why?
- What are you putting your hope in?
- What do you consider blessings? Are they big things that only come every once in a while or things that are given to you everyday?
- Say a sweet pray over being content for all that you have been given by God.
I hope that you are filled with contentment and grace today as you experience God’s presence.
–LOVE, Amber
