Contentment is not settling for less of what you think you deserve, nor is it thinking you aren’t worthy of better. Contentment reflects your attitude, not your circumstances.
Contentment is finding true joy, peace, and gratitude in Jesus, no matter the circumstances.
So, in a world where we desire the next best thing even before it’s announced up for sale, how do we learn to be truly truly happy with what we have and where we are in life? Maybe you are desiring the iPhone 8, or expecting to be married in 13 months, no matter whats at end of the spectrum, there is always one area of your life, if not more, where you are not content and trusting in God’s best for you. Are you content in your job or relationship status?
You think God is withholding better, and you continue to be in this cycle of doubt that He is truly for you in all things. Struggling with contentment isn’t anything new as technology gets better, or “couple goals” get more unattainable. It has been around since the beginning.
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:1-13
Even Eve thought God was withholding from her. She was deceived by the snake, and thought God didn’t have the best for her. She wanted more, she wanted to be like God.
“Our own complaints are not caused by our outward circumstances; rather, they reveal the inward condition of our hearts. A complaining spirit indicates a problem in our relationship with God.”
Eve confused her need with her want, which so many of us do everyday.
31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Roman 8:31-32
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:25-26
How much more does God care for you than the birds in the sky or the ants on the ground? You can have a personal relationship with the one who will never leave or FORSAKE you.
How you view God is how you will go on with your days. He is far greater and bigger than anything the world can offer us. God loves to provide for His children and to show His power. So, go on and ask Him to reveal to you how great He is above all else, and see if your view of your circumstances change.
Surrender your all to Him. Is He worth the cost? The cost of singleness? The cost of going over seas and being a full time missionary? The cost of whatever you are struggling to give Him? Surrender everything to Him and you will find contentment and joy in Him. When you ask yourself these questions, just remember YOU were worth the cost. The cost of God giving His only son. If you trust in Jesus to save you from Hell, then it should be easier than we make it to trust Him in all other areas.
Worship and be still.
Let His peace surpass all else and respond in gratitude whatever your circumstance.
Click the link below to listen to some worship jamz on Spotify!
Grace & blessings,
Meghan Natasha 