Contentment

When will I ever find peace?  How do I break this cycle of fear?  When will finances not be such a struggle?  How can I ever satisfy this desire for fulfillment?  Why don’t I ever seem to fit in?  Will I ever reach my goals and dreams?  Why do I struggle so much mentally?  Why don’t I feel more accomplished in my life at this stage?  Chances are, if you have a heartbeat, you fall or have fallen somewhere in the wide spectrum of discontentment.  Not too long ago, I posed a question on Facebook about what causes a person to struggle with finding contentment.  The questions above reflect a few of the responses I received.  Finding peace is a constant battle, and there are so many external factors that contribute to this.  It is so easy to allow our circumstances to control many factors in our lives.  It can cause us to struggle with our identity; it can dictate the way we make decisions; it can even cause us to question our faith.  I remember I found myself in a very toxic environment at a job.  I was pulled completely out of my element and put in an environment that was way out of my comfort zone.  Needless to say, I was challenged not only physically, but I struggled mentally and emotionally.  Sleepless nights were becoming all too familiar.  It was a time of constantly questioning God “why” or “when are You going to let this season pass?”  I was consistently begging God to change my situation.  Honestly, there were days when I literally felt on the verge of a nervous breakdown.  Anxiety was wreaking havoc on my soul.  I would send my wife texts about how my spirit was breaking.  I had irrational thoughts of a God that wouldn’t hear me and that obviously was finding amusement in my suffering.  Needless to say, it was one of the darkest times in my life.  By the way, I would like to mention that I was a Christian during this time in my life.  A “seasoned” Christian.  I say that not to boast, but because as Christians, we are not immune to suffering.  We don’t wear some supernatural bulletproof vest that protects us from external hurts.  Suffering is very real to anyone who has a pulse.  Circumstances will find their way to us, and they will test our strength, our emotions, our mental well-being and ultimately our faith in God.

During this season, there was one scripture that was constantly brought to my remembrance.  First Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.  The first thousand times I read this scripture; it made me angry.  Why would a God that loves me will me to be in this situation?  Why would a God who loves me not answer my prayers when I begged Him to change my situation?  Surely if He is the God I have always heard He was, then He wouldn’t allow this to happen to me.  Little did I know that He was using my negative circumstance to shape my heart and to draw me near to Him.  You see, God does things for His glory, and they are ultimately for our good.  It was during this time that I began to reflect on Paul.  He is considered to be one of the greatest apostles to have ever carried the Gospel.  Here was a man that penned some of the most incredible letters to the churches he helped to oversee.  Here was a man who, while shackled in a prison, consistently sent words of encouragement to the church.  How?  How was he able to keep his sanity through all he was subjected to?  Don’t get me wrong, Paul was human just like you and me.  He struggled with the same doubts and fears.  He asked God the same questions we ask today.  Philippians 4 holds the key to that peace we so desperately desire.  It is here that Paul points us back to the Source we must rely on.  Paul tells us “…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”.

Christ is the Key to our contentment!  He is the Source of our salvation.  He is the “Grace that is sufficient”.  He is the Strength when we are weak.  He is the Calm in the storm.  He is the Provision in the season of lack.  He is the Clarity in the confusion.  Christ is The Answer!   One of the most profound statements I heard in a sermon by my pastor Jon Quitt was that “Nothing good or bad reaches us without first passing through the hands of God.”  Now if you read this out of context you may think, “Why would God allow bad to pass through His hands?”  One thing I have learned about God is that He is not wasteful.  He won’t let a bad circumstance pass without bringing “good” out of it.  He will use situations to draw us near to Him.  I had to learn to trust Him even when the horizon looked gloomy and unclear.  I had to learn to lean into Him as my comforter and sustainer.  Maybe right now you are reading this and are going through one of the toughest seasons of your life.  I am here as proof that God is in complete control of whatever situation you find yourself in.  The truth is my circumstance didn’t change before I found my peace.  In fact, I still had a few hurdles to cross.  In order for me to find that peace, I had to re-center my heart on Christ.  I had to trust that He was indeed in control and that He truly was my Peace.  My prayer is that as you read these words, may you be reminded of the Joy of your salvation.  May you remember that Christ is the only thing that can fill whatever void you have.  He is your Sustainer.  He is your Strong Tower.  He is your Protector.  He is your Advocate.  He is your Contentment.

Jesus. Coffee. Life. And Stuff.

Pages: 1 2 3