What gives you contentment in life?
I get so excited when I am by a body of water. I love having an incredible cup of coffee, an Americano specifically. If I can run by the water, I am a happy lady! Art excites me. Doing my nails. Curling my hair. Shopping for cute clothes and wearing them at new restaurants. Popcorn and a movie. Playing with children. If all of these are combined, I am having a great day!
But even so with all of these things, would I be fully content?
Truth is,I wasn’t. Ten months ago, my heart longed for more. I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to allow people who didn’t know the Lord to also know how much He loves them, in hopes that they would be able to spend the rest of their lives with Him. No wordly comfort would satisfy me.
Along the journey, I have found that only the Lord will give you contentment in every and any situation if you are seeking Him. The past ten months have all been different in regards to material possessions or luxuries if you will, but He has brought me peace in every country knowing He is my Father and He has it all in control.
Phillipians 4:12-13: 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. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
I know what it is to eat rice all month in Cambodia. For that matter in many other countries too. I know what it is to sleep on the floor and have crickets fly up my nose. I know what it is like not to shower for a week. I know what it is like to wear the same clothes for eleven months. I know what is like to have lice two times and ring worm once from loving children. I know what it is like to drop use a machete to chop down trees. I know what it is like to not be allowed to be by myself one hour for an entire year. I know what is it like to be with a group of believers who you need to fight for because your completely different personalities do not attract. This may surprise you, but the Lord has given me complete contentment in all of these situations!
Going through these situations, He has allowed me to further His kingdom. He has shown me more of who He is. He has taught me many lessons that will prepare me for the future in life and missions. He has allowed me to share His gospel to people all around the world. He has allowed me to fall in love with people from ten countries so far. He has shown me more of who He has created me to be to bring His kingdom here. He has shown me how to fight for unity with people even when your personalities don’t mesh. He has most importantly been with me throughout this whole journey.
Did I miss home sometimes? Yes. Did I think the cricket flying up my nose was gross? Yes!
However, as Paul says in Phillipians 3, “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in hi, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, to attain the resurrection of the dead.”
There are many things that happen in life that can be used as excuses to not be content. In Job 1, he lost his oxen, donkeys, servants, sheep, sons, daughters, and house. He had every right to groan and complain. Yet, in the midst of hardship I cannot fathom, he continued to praise the Lord. “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Job 1: 21
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. His dad thought he was dead. Later on, he found favor by Potipher, one of the pharaoh’s officials and was extremely favored. Potiphar’s wife was attracted to Joseph and wanted him to sleep with her. He was a noble man and didn’t. However,, she tricked her husband into saying that Jospeh was trying to sleep with her. Then he was thrown into prison. Later on, he was brought out of prison because of his gift of interpretation of dreams the Lord gave him. Egypt had a famine for seven years, and Joseph was in charge of rationing the food. His brothers came to ask for food, without recognizing him as they thought he was dead.
After Jospeh revealed himself to his brothers, they were scared he was going to hurt them for what he did. Yet this is what Joseph said. “I am your brother Jospeh, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” Genesis 45:5
In the midst of all of those trials, Joseph was content because he knew it was the Lord’s plan and that the Lord is always faithful.
I encourage and challenge you today. Whatever it is that you are doing right now, whatever situation you are in, whatever trials have come your way, trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Think about all the ways the Lord is faithful and trust Him.
Be content knowing that He loves you.
Be content knowing that He has a perfect plan for your life.
Be content knowing no matter what you’ve done in your life, He sees you as His beloved son or daughter.
Be content knowing that He loved you enough to die for you on a cross as a sacrifice for our sinful, dirty lives so that you could live in heaven for eternity after you die.
If you don’t know the Lord, your life will never be truly content. He is the one who created you. He loves you. He has a perfect plan for you.
I encourage you to seek after Him! He is right there waiting for you.
Be content.
