Learning Contentment

It's been a while since I last wrote anything of value or importance on my blog alone. I am writing about contentment. In the world we live in, it is a constant stream of new news. One person bought a house. Another got a promotion. Your friend got engaged. A couple, you know, brought a new life into the world. It is a constant stream of this kind of announcement in my feeds on a daily. They go on and on and on and on..... I think you all get the point. It can be a challenge as a woman in her twenties to see so many things happen in other people's lives. When I see these things in other people's lives, I can become jealous or even covet what they have. I become discontented. 

Recently, the Lord challenged my heart about being content in the area of my love life or my lack thereof. At my age, I see how many individuals I know get into relationship after relationship, get engaged, get married, and all of the above. It is easy to become discontent with the lack of relationships in my life. And yet, I was challenged by the Lord in my life to be willing to give up searching or even looking or even desiring a dating relationship in my life. It's a shocker to most when I tell them, and it might be a shocker to others as I write this. 

I think dating relationships, getting engaged, and getting married are all glorifying to God. However, being content in every circumstance is important as well. And for me, that is finding contentment in Christ. The apostle Paul knew this well in his letter to the Philippian church. It amazes how God used Paul's circumstances to teach contentment. I will admit my lack of a love life is nothing compared to what Paul faced by writing this precious letter to them.

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:10-13

Paul faced so many different trials for the faith to share the gospel, and yet he knew what it meant to be content. Paul knew and trusted that through whatever situation, He could find contentment in Christ. Contentment is not just a New Testament concept. After talking with my roommate, she pointed out these verses to me as it was a passage referring to being content. 

      Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail, and the fields yield no food, he flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. 

Habbakuk 3:17-19

The book of Habbakuk is between God and Habbakuk. Habbakuk writes complaints, and God responds to his complaints. In the last chapter, Habbakuk prays, and in these last verses, He comes to these statements. Even though Habbakuk knew days of trouble would come, He could look to God and be content within the character of God. 

We ought to trust God's ways, and God's timing is everything, even though being content. It is being contented in knowing who God is. Is He good? Yes. Is He faithful? Yes. Does he know what you need to follow him? Yes.  So is learning contentment easy? No. 

As I have been learning contentment, I have been learning more about God's character in a deeper manner. I understand who God is but sometimes can forget (spiritual amnesia) of God's character in every circumstance. Still, the beautiful thing is every time He reminds me and teaches me again and again.