” …for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
Philippians 4:11
Five and a half years ago we moved to Illinois from Pennsylvania, our home of 25 years. I shared how difficult this experience has been in an episode on the Mission Women podcast, “When God Calls You Out of Your Comfort Zone.” There is no doubt these past few years have been one of the most trying times of my life. However, I have also experienced a rich season of God ministering to, molding, and healing my broken heart.
There are foundational Truths I have “hashed out” with Him, with many tears and questions on my part. Yet, He remains faithful to tenderly guide and patiently teach me through it all. Sometimes, God allows great loss or for life to not make sense, so we can learn that HE REALLY IS OUR EVERYTHING. One of the biggest lessons I am learning is what it means to be content.
“When I understand that EVERYTHING happening to me is to make me more Christlike, it resolves a great deal of anxiety.”
A. W. Tozer
PERSPECTIVE
I recently read the book Calm my Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. In it she details her journey to contentment and addresses the different areas of life where we tend to grow discontent— circumstances, self,role, and relationships. When we lose sight of eternity and forget there is a greater plan, it is easy to become discontent.
All my questions of “Why”, “What if”, or my complaints of “If only”, came from a focus on self and a heart that was not content. More importantly, however, these questions revealed my lack of trust and how prideful I am. I was not content with who God is, how He created me, or what He was doing in my life.
I thought I knew better than the One who knit me together and sovereignly knows what I need to fulfill the purpose He ordained for me. Simply, I am to become more and more like Him and reflect His glory. Unfortunately, I get caught up in all the details of HOW and WHAT, thinking it is dependent on me. No wonder I become so anxious and discontented.
THE SECRET OF CONTENTMENT
Linda then goes on to explain the secret of contentment which is found in the familiar passage of Philippians 4:11-13,
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of CONTENTMENT in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
To translate literally from Greek the verse would read “I am able to face anything by the one who makes me able [to do it]. Linda shared her favorite translation of this verse by the Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest and it has become mine, as well.
“I am strong for all the things in the One who constantly infuses strength in me.”
You see, the secret to contentment is recognizing that Christ is able and willing to provide the strength we need to be content, no matter what. Like a teabag infuses the water in a teacup, His strength infuses me. The longer I allow His presence to steep into my whole being, I take on His strength, peace, and power. God is not only our source of contentment, but also our ability to achieve it.
In addition, it is important to note that contentment is not a natural response, but one that is learned. Learning is a process that involves hard work and practice. Do not get discouraged. Even the great apostle Paul had to learn contentment.
LESSONS LEARNED
In the next post I will talk more about what contentment is, but for now I will focus on what I learned contentment is NOT.
CONTENTMENT IS NOT CONTINGENT ON CIRCUMSTANCES
When Paul wrote “I have learned to be content” he was in prison, not ideal circumstances. There are negative aspects in life, but as believers, there are ALWAYS positives as well because God never changes, and He will never leave us. The negative and the positive are both true.
Paul tells us earlier in Philippians 4 in verses 6-9, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you”
The way I view my current circumstances is my choice. What I choose to dwell on is my choice. Will I bring my anxieties to God in prayer, leave them in His hands, or replay them over and over in my mind? Am I choosing to take control of my thoughts? Am I putting into practice what I have learned? Contentment is based in the character of God. It is more a shift of attitude than a change of circumstances, an internal condition of my heart.
CONTENTMENT IS NOT CONTROL
I never say I know better than God, or that He needs my help, but I often live that way. Acting like everything depends on me and striving to make things be as I think they should is no different. Other times I feel so “out of control” it is easier to give up and not try anymore. Either way, the focus is no longer God and His purposes, but ME and mine. Only God is in control of ALL things. 1 Timothy 6:15 says, God…is the blessed controller of all things, the king over all kings and the master of all masters. Will I choose to accept HIS control over my life? Can I rest in His goodness, trusting He is working for my good?
“Contentment is essentially a matter of accepting from God’s hand what He sends because we know that He is good and therefore it is good.”
J.J. Packer
CONTENTMENT IS NOT COMPARING MYSELF TO OTHERS
Psalm 139 is a beautiful chapter detailing how intricately and purposefully we are woven together. Before any of us were even born, God knew us, and He cared for us. My appearance, personality, gifts, talents, roles, relationships…all were assigned to me by God.
They were given to fulfill the purpose He ordained for me, not fill in the blank. When I complain about any aspect of myself; strive to be someone else; covet what others have or can do, I am robbing myself of who I was created to be.
“I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of; for to have been thought about, born in God’s thought, and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest, and most precious thing in all thinking.”
George MacDonald
CONTENTMENT IS NOT COMPLACENCY
Accepting what God sends and trusting in Him is not throwing my hands up in the air and just waiting for things to get better. It doesn’t mean denying the pain, difficulty or sadness of a situation and pretending that everything is just fine. Sometimes, there are action steps I can take to change my current circumstances. Stewardship of our assigned resources (body, talents, etc.) does require care and intentionality.
Nor does being content mean that I don’t desire things to improve or be different. The Bible tells us that eternity is set in our hearts. We were created to long for the “better” of heaven where everything is made new and whole. However, the glory and wonder of heaven revolves around the Lamb on the throne.
That is the “secret”. We should live in a way where everything revolves around the Lamb on the throne of our lives. Through prayer, presenting our specific desires and requests to Him we invite His peace into our hearts. The truth is that maybe our circumstances will never change, but that does not mean I can’t. Through the One who gives me strength, I can become content.
“To be content doesn’t mean you don’t desire more, it means you’re thankful for what you have and patient for what’s to come.”
Tony Gaskins
MOVING FORWARD
Continuing my journey to contentment, my prayer is that like Paul, I will be able to mean these words-
“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
