Contentment

Contentment is defined as a state of peaceful happiness.
It is so convenient to be ‘content’ when we have all we need and our 'stuff' is under control.

I cannot help but picture the Von Trapp family running free in the hills of Switzerland singing, “the hills are alive with the sound of music.” J Those moments where things are great...your vision and purpose is clearer than it’s ever been. We become so brave for life is good and nothing can go wrong.

But where is that feeling when we are consumed with all sorts of unanswered questions?

Think with me a moment…
When was the last time a great day caused heartache in your life? If we are honest…never.
We would be ‘happy’ if the weather would stay the way it is in the fall.
If only God would just work this ‘one thing’ out, then we would be content.
If all my bills were paid and I had money in the bank…that’s the answer to my problems.

(Jerusalem Mill)
(Bel Air, MD)

Where we falter on many occasions is we are guilty of the ‘if only’ way of thinking. ‘If only this would happen, I would be so content.’
What would happen in our personal worlds, if we made the choice to be content no matter what.
* David was hiding out in caves, yet Samuel had already anointed him to be the next King of Israel.
* Job lost everything and lived in utter pain because God allowed him to be used to prove something to satan.
* Joseph had so much promise, yet every time things looked like they were working toward the good, another setback would occur.

This does not mean that we have to settle for things being the way they are, but scripture proves to us that we must become engulfed in a surrendering of our own desires and humbly allow Christ to change us. For each of us is born with a sinful nature. It is the humanity that we are robed in. And most often it is the trial by fire, 

the uncertain – unanswered questions, and the storms that force us to search deep within ourselves to check the content of our faith.

There are very few who enjoy the feeling of not being in control and having to live day to day. It is imperative that we realize the importance of not comparing ourselves to anyone else. It is a proven fact that there will always be someone who has it better or worse than you do. What is essential to our survival on this journey with Christ is that we find that place of peaceful happiness…content in His will for me.

In order to see the person He desires for us to become…we must submit to the path He chooses to use to get us there.

(Cherry Hill Bridge)
(Rocks State Park)

It is a long chapter, but read Lamentations 3 and search the content of your faith in Him. I’ve wondered lately, should I lie face down on the floor and weep before Him? Should I pray / fast for 40 days and nights? What is it that I am not doing?

It is not that I am not doing what is right, it simply is that I haven’t become completely content with the process.

Lamentations 3:25-27 The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline:

Contentment: a state of peaceful happiness. 


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