Live in a State of Contentment
Have you ever felt restless? Maybe you feel anxious right now but can’t put your finger on why. I think we’ve all experienced it, not realizing this feeling can come from the fact that we’re not content with our life. We think we’re missing something, so we begin to search for it. Maybe it’s from a lack of fulfillment at work or happiness in a relationship or satisfaction at home. Unfortunately, a lot of times we look in all the wrong places for something to fill our empty spaces. Some people look to food while others look to alcohol or drugs. Some try to find meaning and purpose through other people’s lives on social media.
The problem is that none of those things can fill our empty spaces because it’s actually a longing to find contentment. We think, “When I get my promotion…a new house…more money…when I fall in love, I’ll be happy. I’ll be successful.” But the line of happiness and success is always moving. If you’re chasing success or happiness, you’re never going to catch it because you can never have enough of it, and you’ll exhaust yourself forever chasing it. The only source that can fill that space is Jesus living inside us. But we’re so used to trying to find our own sources that we forget that He is the source of our strength, the source of our meaning and purpose. Don’t run after something else to fill the empty spaces in your life that only Jesus can fill.
When you’re feeling anxious, restless and discontent, I encourage you to meditate on these words from the apostle Paul: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12–13). He learned the profound secret that contentment in his relationship with Christ is a powerful state of mind. He learned that because Christ was living in him, he could do all things with Christ strengthening him. In Christ, even in the prison from where he was writing, Paul was content and full of joy.
Contentment is defined as a “state of peaceful happiness,” an attitude that has nothing to do with where you are or what you have. Proverbs 15:15 says, “For the happy heart, life is a continual feast.” Can I encourage you to feast on the fact that God is for you, not against you. Because you’re full of Christ Jesus, He’s helping you through whatever you’re going through. It’s the “I can through Him” that’s going to give you the strength to do it!
The problem is that none of those things can fill our empty spaces because it’s actually a longing to find contentment. We think, “When I get my promotion…a new house…more money…when I fall in love, I’ll be happy. I’ll be successful.” But the line of happiness and success is always moving. If you’re chasing success or happiness, you’re never going to catch it because you can never have enough of it, and you’ll exhaust yourself forever chasing it. The only source that can fill that space is Jesus living inside us. But we’re so used to trying to find our own sources that we forget that He is the source of our strength, the source of our meaning and purpose. Don’t run after something else to fill the empty spaces in your life that only Jesus can fill.
When you’re feeling anxious, restless and discontent, I encourage you to meditate on these words from the apostle Paul: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12–13). He learned the profound secret that contentment in his relationship with Christ is a powerful state of mind. He learned that because Christ was living in him, he could do all things with Christ strengthening him. In Christ, even in the prison from where he was writing, Paul was content and full of joy.
Contentment is defined as a “state of peaceful happiness,” an attitude that has nothing to do with where you are or what you have. Proverbs 15:15 says, “For the happy heart, life is a continual feast.” Can I encourage you to feast on the fact that God is for you, not against you. Because you’re full of Christ Jesus, He’s helping you through whatever you’re going through. It’s the “I can through Him” that’s going to give you the strength to do it!