Learning to be Content
Philippians 4:11
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
When you look at our cat, Winston, you see nothing but contentment. He looks content as he naps all day long, has food and water available to him, is profoundly loved by his people, and lives safely in a home with warmth, toys, and scratch pads. At first glance, one would assume this is the type of contentment Paul is talking about in Philippians 4:11. It appears that Winston is content in all circumstances. It appears Winston has hit the contentment lottery.
If you spend a little more time with Winston, small cracks start to appear in his contentment facade. If his food bowl is empty, he begins to pace. If everyone doesn’t go to bed at the time he expects, he protests with squeaky cries. If someone pets him too long, he shows his disapproval with a snippy bite. If his water bowl hasn’t been freshened, he sits in the tub and stares at the faucet in disappointment. Spending extended time with Winston reveals that he isn’t content in all circumstances. Winston is content when things go his way.
Sound familiar?
In all honesty, I think most of us are content like Winston, not content like Paul.
As long as things are going well, we feel pretty content. But it’s tough to find contentment when we didn’t get enough sleep last night, or when our baby is sick for the 5th day in a row, or when we can’t financially make ends meet, or when our child isn’t thriving in school. There are endless things in this world that can destroy our contentment. Struggling with contentment seems to be in our nature. Paul confirms this human struggle by saying, I have learned. Paul doesn’t say it’s easy to be content. He doesn’t say he’s naturally content. He says, I have learned to be content.
Think of a time when you had to learn something new. It took practice, intentionality, study time, hard work, and dedication. To learn contentment, we need to work at it. Content people aren’t just the lucky ones to whom it comes easy. Content people are the ones who make contentment a priority. They study how to be content. They intentionally think about contentment in the middle of their mess. They are the ones who partner with God to be content and who know that contentment comes from Him, not from themselves.
Moms, we can all be content whatever our circumstances. That is the truth.
We just need to learn how. We must retrain our brains. We must look for things to be content about. We must be in constant communication with God about our contentment. We must surrender our negative thought patterns. We must take the baby steps. We are not trying to be profusely happy in tough times, we are trying to be content. We need to scale back our expectations and keep them realistic. In the tough times, look for the tiniest beautiful thing. If you can’t find anything, resurrect a beautiful moment from the past to focus on. Notice Paul doesn’t say he finds contentment because of the situation, he says he finds contentment in every situation.
I keep a pocket full of thoughts that make me smile when things get tough. It might be a funny thing a child said, or a sweet look of accomplishment, or a kind word of gratitude. Contentment breeds contentment. We just need to take the first small step. When we do that and remain yoked to God, he will continue to guide us into real contentment, not contentment dependent on our circumstances, like Winston’s.
God, thank you for desiring contentment for us. Thank you for giving us the recipe for contentment. Thank you for placing your strength in us so that we can pursue the joy, contentment, love, and peace you have made available to us. God, you are good. All the time and in all circumstances. We love you.