Life had not turned out the way I had hoped and planned. And
I wasn’t happy about it.
In fact, I was discontent with everything. It’s not that I
wanted “more,” I just wanted “different.” I found myself feeling stuck in a
life I didn’t love and powerless to change it.
When life is hard, heartbreaking or even just disappointing,
it’s easy to start disliking life altogether. Especially when we feel as if
life should be one way, but instead it’s another way entirely, and it may not
even be our fault. When this happens, we can easily get stuck in a negative
mindset — not only about life, but possibly about God — both of which open the
door for discontentment to settle in.
We can feel stuck when a difficult situation rages into our
lives and we don’t like it one bit, yet can’t escape it. We can feel stuck when
it seems we’ve done everything possible to bring about change of some sort —
yet nothing seems to ever change. Or when we’re constantly trying to manipulate
things to go our way, control things out of our control, or change people whom
we have no power to change.
When our lives are filled with obligations we “have to”
meet, or responsibilities we know we “should” or “must” do, we can feel as if
there is no way out and be unhappy about the perception of being stuck.
In these moments, it’s easy to lose sight of all of the good
things about our lives. Through faith alone, I’ve finally come to realize that
even if it seems justified, I don’t have to let discontentment poison my heart
and mind. I don’t have to let the things that are not perfect cause me to take
life itself for granted. And I certainly don’t have to let unhappiness with
some things blind me to all the wonderful things in my life God has given me
that bring me true joy.
This is exactly what Paul was teaching in today’s key verse.
In Philippians 4:12, Paul
told the church at Philippi, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know
what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any
and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in
want.” (NIV)
Considering the apostle’s difficult life, this is a pretty
amazing attitude. He wrote these specific words while sitting in a prison cell.
He’d been arrested on false charges by corrupt officials and faced the
possibility of execution, yet he wrote that he’d learned to be content with
whatever he had. Which at the moment was literally nothing, not even his
freedom. How could he feel that way after all he’d been through … and while he
was in prison?
In Philippians 4:13 we
find the answer. Paul said, “I can do all this through him who gives me
strength.” (NIV) Regardless of his circumstances and despite having
endured much persecution and loss, Paul could live with peace and contentment
because his heart was right with God. He knew his unwavering faith was the
foundation for lasting contentment.
Life is not always exciting. It’s not always easy. It’s not
always fair. It’s not always overflowing with opportunity and adventure.
Consequently, we’re all going to feel a sense of unhappiness or discontentment
from time to time. But we don’t have to stay stuck there.
The life we are living today, with all it includes (or
doesn’t include), is the life God has given us. We can choose to be content and
joyful in it, or choose to be the opposite.
Lord, help me be content with the way my life looks right
now, rather than wishing it were different or better. Help me break free from
feelings of discontentment and learn to live with a heart full of gratitude and
love for the life You have given me, no matter what it may look like. In Jesus’
Name, Amen.
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