Finding Contentment in the Will of God

As I sit here editing this article, the Thanksgiving season is upon us. This article will likely not be published until some later date. However, it is at this time of year that we often contemplate the blessings God has bestowed upon us. As the year begins to draw to a close, we also examine the many cycles of ups and downs we have experienced throughout the year. I ask you dear friend, “Are you finding contentment in the present will of God for your life?”

Going through difficult times will often lead us into an attitude of discontentment.

Do you long for your particular set of circumstances to be changed? I know I have, many times throughout my life.

I may only be in my early thirties; but since I was a teenager, I have had to walk through a number of extremely painful trials. Now as I look back however, I can see how God was preparing me. And He was laying a necessary foundation for me to be able to minister as a foster mama to the dear little girl He has brought in our home. 

If anyone had an excuse for wanting his circumstances to be altered, it was the apostle Paul. He was not only beaten, stoned, and shipwrecked, but also imprisoned and eventually martyred for his faith in Christ. Yet in spite of these circumstances, he pens the following words:

Philippians 4:11-13,

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

God brings trials into our lives for a specific purpose. We must seek to bring glory and honor to Him during these trying times. The attitudes we maintain during these times will reflect the character of our heart. God can use our testimonies as Christians during these difficult times, if we are reflecting the character of Christ. Having an attitude of gratitude regardless of the circumstances we are facing. God commands us to give thanks in ALL things. 

Today, we are going to consider two reasons for developing an attitude of contentment and the necessary steps to take in achieving it:

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Finding Contentment: The Reflection

A Godly Contentment

We need to develop an attitude of contentment, first of all, because our attitude is a reflection on God. This attitude is a vital component of the spirit-filled Christian. 

I Timothy 6:6, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

As a Christian, our attitudes are either making a positive or negative impact for Christ. Someone who is always moping and complaining about her problems is going to have a hard time convincing anyone of becoming a Christian.

Jesus says in Matthew 11:29,

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, yet many times we become weighed down with the cares of this life. The problem is that we are caring the yoke by ourselves. We have ceased letting Him walk beside us and carrying the yoke with us. We have neglected to cast our burdens upon Him. Carrying burdens by ourselves results in disillusionment and discouragement. God never intended us to carry our burdens alone. 

Trying to fix problems ourselves, results in a discontented attitude. When we are leaning on our own understanding, we are failing to trust God to work all things for good in our lives.

A Joyful Countenance

Maintaining a joyful countenance is also an important aspect of our Christian testimony. As we display this attitude, we will show the world around us that our God is bigger than our problems. Demonstrating the peace of God even in the midst storms is a power witness to those around us. Having an attitude of peace and contentment is the greatest way to proclaim the changing power of the grace of God in our lives. 

When I was twenty years old, I had the life-changing opportunity to visit an orphanage in the country of Malaysia. This orphanage was nothing fancy. There was no plush carpet or even tiled floors. The main assembly room in which we met and conducted our presentation contained no chairs. We had to simply sit on the concrete floor with all of the children. 

These children had practically no earthly possessions. Many of them were thrilled just to get a sticker from one of the members on our missions team. Most of them had no shoes and were rather ragged in appearance. They had no families. Either their parents had passed away, were not able to care for them, or forsook them due to some form of handicap.  

What amazed me the most about these children was the glow upon their faces. They were not depressed because of their circumstances. If anyone had a right to be discontented and bitter about their life situation, they sure did. Their joyful countenances radiated the love they had experienced in Jesus Christ. They had tasted the love of Jesus and had found contentment in their souls. And this, they realized was all they really needed. 

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Finding Contentment: The Requirement

An Essential Command

Developing an attitude of contentment is essential because God requires it. In Hebrews 13:5, God commands us to “be content with such things as ye have.”  Immediately following this command, God gives us a promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He has promised to supply all of our needs. And He has promised that no matter what we face He will be with us, and He will supply our needs.

Paul said in Colossians 4:12, “…for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

If anyone had reason to be dissatisfied with the Christian life, it was Paul. He had suffered shipwreck, been imprisoned, stoned, and faced many other trials. He makes our suffering look like nothing compared to what he went through. Yet, in spite of all his trials, he says that he had learned to be content. He had learned to give thanks in all circumstances and to rely on God’s strength rather than his own.

In I Timothy 6:8, Paul wrote to Timothy, “And having food and raiment let us therewith be content.” If you have food and clothing, which I would gather you do, then we do not have any excuses for discontentment. 

A Challenging Example

Corrie Ten Boom and her sister Betsie were placed in a Nazis prison camp during World War II. They, along with the rest of their family had been arrested for hiding Jews in their home in Holland.  After spending three days crammed into a freight car with 80 women, they arrived at the prison camp. In their barracks, they had to sleep on platforms that were three high and covered with dirty, smelly straw.

When Betsie and Corrie climbed into bed, they realized that it was crawling with fleas. Betsie reminded Corrie of a verse they had read that morning in the Bible:

I Thessalonians 5:18,

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Betsie and Corrie began to find the things for which they could be thankful. At the end of the prayer, Betsie began thanking God for the fleas. Corrie did not understand how they could possibly be thankful for the fleas. Betsie told Corrie, “Give thanks in all circumstances, it doesn’t say, ‘in pleasant circumstances.’ Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.”

Betsie and Corrie began having Bible studies with the women in their barracks with a Bible Corrie had been able to smuggle into the camp. They were able to do this without being stopped by the guards.

One day, Betsie overheard one of the guards say that the reason they would not go into that barracks was because of the fleas. Corrie and Betsie realized that this was the reason God had allowed the fleas. If it weren’t for the fleas, surely, their Bible studies would have been stopped and their Bible taken away.

By following God’s command to be thankful in every circumstance, they learned that God does work out all things for good.

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Finding Contentment: The Resolve

Lastly, I would like to share with you several steps to developing contentment in your own life.

Developing an attitude of contentment requires a resolve or resolute choice. Websters 1828 dictionary defines resolve as,

“Fixed purpose of mind; settled determination; resolution.”

Care for Your Spirit

The first step to developing a heart of contentment, I believe, is caring for your own spiritual welfare. When we are not abiding in Christ and maintaining a right relationship with Him, we are not going to have a peaceful and contented spirit. As ladies, we are constantly pouring out into the lives of our husbands, children, and others God brings along our path.

When we do not take the time to be filled, we will be emptied and used up. We must take time each and every day to be refilled and refueled by spending time in the presence of our Lord. We can only find the path to contentment when we are walking hand in hand with our dear precious Savior.

Cultivate a Heart of Gratefulness

Secondly, we need to cultivate a heart of gratefulness and learn to give thanks to God in every circumstance. Just as Betsie and Corrie learned to be thankful even for the fleas, we should learn to give thanks in every trial no matter have difficult.

I Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

When things are not going well, instead of complaining, we should start counting our blessings. When we do this, it takes the focus off of the negative and concentrates our hearts on the blessings God has bestowed upon us. 

The songwriter wrote,

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings – name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Center Your Attention on Others

Another way to develop a heart of contentment is to center your attention on the needs of others. When we begin to focus on the needs of others, we will have less time to meditate upon our own problems. Truly, the happiest people are those who are serving others. When we seek to make another person’s load lighter, we will be both blessed.

Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Christ was the greatest example of a selfless person. He never sought to please Himself but was always tending to the needs of others. Caring for other people displays a true Christlike spirit in our lives.

Concede that God Works all Things for Good

Lastly, we need to concede that God works all things for good in our lives.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose.”

As I reflect on some of the trials that my family and I have been through, in every circumstance I can see how God was working. At the time, it did not always appear that way, but God does truly work out all things for good, for those who are seeking to follow Him and do what is right. Our part is that we must be seeking to follow Him. He is not going to work all things for good in the life of a lost person who has rejected Christ. 

God has allowed every circumstance in our lives for a specific purpose. Our part is to bring Him glory and honor in spite of our difficult trials. Recognizing that God’s ways are better than our own demonstrates an attitude of humility and surrender.

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Conclusion

An attitude of contentment is a mark of a mature Christian. One who has learned to rejoice in all circumstances. 

Nehemiah 8:10, “neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 

We can find strength to face our trials by having true joy, the joy of the Lord. We can find strength in knowing that God is walking beside us and that we can cast our burdens upon Him.

Will you choose to reflect the character of Christ in your life by having an attitude of contentment?