Contentment. Before reading any further, ask yourself what contentment means to you. When I ask myself that question, most everything I’ve ever heard comes to mind, but not necessarily what it means to me personally. Goodness, what is contentment? Is it elusive? Is it tangible? Elusive is difficult to find or catch. So no, it can’t be caught. It isn’t something we can touch. So can contentment be found? 

If I can find, or learn how to be content, where do I even begin? We live in a culture, driven by feelings, finances and fantasies. How do I feel? Sad? Eat, drink or spend. Indulge to chase away sadness. What if I am in physical pain? Personally, this has been a life challenge for the last several years. I have chosen poorly countless times. Tears, whining, complaining, anger and a calendar full of pity parties. I chose to self medicate many times, and caved into the mental, physical and emotional weariness. Contentment was not part of the landscape of my life. 

The search continues, and I have learned contentment is not found in going my own way, looking under the boulders as I stumbled along. Did I mention I was choosing to travel alone in my dead-end wandering? Hmm. Alone. 

As I continued in my solo-searching, I wanted tangible results. I wanted to touch, feel and latch onto a physical crutch. Something I could lean on and that would stop the shooting pain. I have a cane. I have a walker. I have a drawer full of OTC pain relievers. All tangible things, yet not one of them could provide contentment. 

I prayed. I asked others to pray and they did. So why was I unable to be content? Was this a cosmic joke? No. I knew God, in his goodness and in the extravagant gift of life in Christ, was not cruel. Now I’m  getting somewhere! 

The extravagant, priceless, gift of eternal life is something I received, although I couldn’t see it. I knew it, I embraced and received it. Hallelujah! I began the lifelong process of renewing my mind. I learned (I am still learning) to take my thoughts captive and replace the lies. I had a playlist of self deprecating thoughts that played over and over. Those thoughts had become a part of me. I practiced intentionality and I won’t lie, it was work. Yet, thought by thought, step by step, my thoughts began to change. 

Contentment. Rather than ask dozens of people what contentment means to them, I’m going to give you a couple of definitions.

#1 - From Merriam Webster: the quality or state of being contented

There was a look of contentment on her face.

Seems vague and superficial to me. What I am looking for, what I desire is more than vague or superficial and fleeting. I want to learn what it is to have true, abiding contentment that is a part of me. I don’t want a splash or drop. I want to stand under the waterfall, drenching myself while I drink deeply.  

#2 - From Vocabulary.com: Contentment is the state of being happy and satisfied.

On Thanksgiving when you think about all you are grateful for, hopefully you feel a sense of contentment. If not, have another piece of pie and then you’ll feel contentment.

Better I think, yet still lacking what I desire more - another piece of pie has never delivered a contented state within. More like a guilt trip trigger! Did I need another piece of pie? I could write volumes out of similar experiences. I will spare you this time. 

After looking at multiple sources, biblical truths are the only sources that can point me to the answer I need and want. I am not the first, or most eloquent individual who has put thoughts on paper. It is out of truly asking myself what it means to me. I don’t want empty promises and solutions coming from a spinning, broken world. I want the eternal, perfect God to show me. 

From Lifeway - Rick Ezell says this;

Contentment is a matter of accepting from God's hand what he sends because we know that he is a good God and wants to give good gifts to his children. We accept, therefore, from God's hand that which he gives. All that is needful he will supply. Even pain and suffering that seemingly cannot be corrected, he can redeem. If we fail to surrender we will forever be discontent. Our freedom will be suffocated. We will be in bondage to our desires. Our relationships will be poisoned with jealousy and competition. Potential blessings will be sacrificed. Discontentment has the potential to destroy our peace, rob us of joy, make us miserable, and tarnish our witness. We dishonor God if we proclaim a Savior who satisfies and then live discontent. 

I could have begun and ended with his words, yet I would not have prayed, confessed my inadequacy to generate contentment on my own, or asked myself important questions and sought out some answers. God always provides. No exceptions. It doesn’t necessarily make sense, and God certainly does not answer to anyone! He created and designed and owns it all. He makes the rules, gives us direction by his word, the Bible, and his Holy Spirit lives in us if we have a relationship with Christ. 

True contentment can be found only in Jesus Christ. If it could be found through human effort, I would make myself god. 

So to wind this up, let me finish with life giving words from 1 Timothy 6:6-9

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

Has learning to be content something you have wanted? How have you pursued it in your own life? 

Becky on: Aug 26th, 2024 03:17pm

Good question…what is contentment to me? For me it is to be happy with all God has blessed me with. Anything else is Becky centered and not God centered.