Learning To Be Content

I’m sure many of us have heard people say phrases such as,

“I’ve reached a place of contentment” or “I have found contentment in this season”.

Almost like contentment is a place you arrive at. And, I have found that it gets pretty discouraging once we’ve exhausted all of our efforts to reach this “place” called contentment that people speak of.

Some may even ask, what is contentment?

 By definition, contentment is the state of being happy or satisfied, no matter the season or current life condition you are in.

I’d like to raise the notion that contentment has no destination point. However, when we begin to travel down the road of becoming a better person, one of the first things we do is focus our efforts on finding contentment. This is usually because that’s what we’ve heard we are “supposed” to do. But, I don’t think contentment is something we can find.

Now I’m not saying that the state of being content is not a thing. There is a such thing as being content and make note that it is important to be content in every season. However, I understand contentment to be a learned behavior rather than something we seek out to obtain. I view it as something we work toward rather than find. It’s more of a process.

In Philippians 4:11 – 13, Paul talks about the concept of contentment.

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:11 – 13 (NKJV)

So, when people say that they’ve reached a place of contentment, what they are really saying is, they’ve learned to develop the state of being satisfied in the season they are in.

I can say today that I have learned to be content. It wasn’t always this way but over the last two years or so, I can attest to contentment being an actual thing. And I’ve recently wondered how in the world I’ve become content in certain areas of my life?!

 I know for sure it wasn’t an overnight thing! I didn’t just wake up one morning content.

After some reflection, I’ve recognized that as in Paul’s case, I can gracefully attest to not finding the place of contentment. It was a learned and still is at times an ever-learning thing for me. A choice on my part made daily.

Society has conditioned us to highlight the negative and not the positive. Therefore, our habit has become finding fault and dwelling on the things we do not have as opposed to appreciating what we do have.

We have become so accustomed to attaching our happiness and worth to possessions and relationships. Which eventually results in comparing ourselves to others (another topic for another post). But we must realize that our possessions, relationships, and situations can change at any given moment because life is everchanging.

Due to these ever-fickle things, we can’t bank on them to sustain our joy or peace of mind.

This gives reason to why as Christians, we should set our mind on things above and not the things within this world (Colossians 3:2).

Contentment takes intention on our part. It is a choice we learn to make daily. We do this by electing to live in the moment. Though everything may not be ideal, we can seek areas and ways in which we can enjoy the present moment.

Another way we choose contentment is by showing gratitude. Being grateful for what we have. Gratitude forces us to delight in the existing good experiences as opposed to highlighting the negative ones. As a result, we feel more positive in our current state. This is why the word of God says,

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” -1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)

Not only does contentment take intentionality but it also takes leaning into the strength of Christ. In verse 13 of Philippians 4, Paul lets us know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Meaning, we are not content by our own accord. But it is Christ who gives us the strength which enables us to be content in whatever season we find ourselves in.

The way I’ve leaned into the strength of Christ is by first recognizing that God is a good God and wants what’s best for me. There is no good thing He will withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11). Simply put, if I don’t have something that I currently desire to have, then it is not for me at this time.

In addition, I present my weaknesses and shortcomings to God and candidly ask Him for strength to walk through the season I’m in. I’ve learned awhile ago that I cannot do this journey without Him.

In a place of need or lack, drawing strength from Christ helps us be able to live in the moment. It enables us to find ways to delight in our present experience.

Do I desire more than I currently have?

Yes!

Am I still waiting on God to do certain things in my life?

Absolutely!

Do I get frustrated or discouraged at times?

You bet!

But during those tough moments, I focus on being grateful for the people and things in my “now” season. I direct my attention toward the ways God is showing Himself in my current state of life. And most importantly, I lean into the strength of Christ while realizing this is only a season.

The way I look at it, I will never get this time back. So, my goal is to learn all of the life lessons God has for me in this season of my life.

Today, you too have the ability to maintain contentment, regardless of the current season you are in. The choice is truly yours!