In Whatever Situation

Content.

That’s a foreign word in our bustling culture these days. We seem to always be striving for the next thing, filling our already too busy schedules with more, and never satisfied with what we have. I’m no stranger to this, but yet how many of us can say we are truly content?

Paul said in Philippians 4:11

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”

Whatever situation.

Wow. I don’t know about you, but that’s a humbling realization for a couple of reasons. First of all, this is coming from the apostle Paul. You remember him, right? He, probably arguably more than any other apostle, had a life FULL of reasons not to be content. I mean, when you are facing death threats, prison, attempts on your life, constant persecution, physical ailments, being shipwrecked…more than once….seriously…need I go on? According to our human scale, we would pass no judgement for a lack of contentment in his life. Yet he said, whatever situation I am content.

There’s only one way that kind of contentment is produced and maintained.

Jesus.

When we abide in Him, contentment seeps through our pores and overflows into our lives.

I needed that reminder this week. I’ll be honest….I have struggled to be content lately. My body hurts, I’m struggling to sleep, and I’m beginning to dread some upcoming events in my life that I know are going to be difficult.

But I can be content through it all.

I need to keep my gaze fixed on Jesus. HE is the author and perfecter of my faith, my comforter, my sustainer, the lover of my soul, my source for strength, my Savior. It is only through Him that I can find true contentment. Then I can truly say

In whatever situation, I am content.