With Thanksgiving this week and Christmas coming soon, many of us are pulling the belt tight these days. Many of us find that our circumstances are not the same as they have been in prior years. Are we content regardless of our current situation? Please learn the secret in this post!
I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 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. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:10-13
Ken And Anna
I heard the song “Even If” by the music group “Mercy Me” a few years ago. It turns out that a good friend of ours heard this as well and it is one of his favorite songs. His wife was diagnosed around that time with a serious neurological disorder. Her condition is worsening as time goes on, and I’m sure that Ken has to listen to this song again and read God’s Word and pray for their situation. I know it has to be hard. We pray often for them. Their hope and our hope is in the Lord, “Even If” Anna doesn’t improve or she declines quicker than expected, we are trusting the Lord in the middle of it all.
I know others including one of my readers who has had many strokes. He has to look to the Lord always with his health. How much longer will he be here and how does God want to use him while he still is?
In Need
When we were young and our kids were born, we barely had enough to make ends meet. We decided that my husband should go to college and someday have a career where hopefully, we wouldn’t be as concerned about having so little. We would have food, have a place to live and pay our bills without too much concern. We might even have some nice things as well that we wouldn’t have if he didn’t have a good job. We know what it is like to live with very little.
Having Plenty
Also, we know now what is is like to have much more. Even when we have more though, anything can happen and change our circumstances. Our economy can crash and we are in a recession, even though our government doesn’t like to admit this. Regardless, we have to be content and our secret is to do this all only through Christ who gives us strength. Our reliance and our contentment has to be from Him.
Am I Content?
I went back to college myself and hoped I would come out and have a job to go to. But God had other plans. My health did not allow it at least not for long. I began having regular seizures. I went through a few periods of time where I didn’t have any. Right now I am seizure free four years now. I had professors in college and others including my husband who encouraged me to write. It took me a while, but I began around five years ago. The Lord though has not led me to pursue another job as of yet.
Every now and then, I begin thinking of what it would look like to go back to work. When I do though, I realize that I will be unable to write and have a ministry in people’s lives. I also watch two of our grandchildren. I might not have the same impact if I don’t watch them at all. I still look for balance and the Lord’s will in all of this, but I have to come back each time and ask if I am content in every situation right now.
Paul Was Still Content
The Philippians told Paul that they were concerned for him. It sounds like they didn’t have a way to show it for a while. He didn’t say it because he was in need though. For he has learned in whatever circumstance he was in, to be content! That is a big whatever! It covers a lot of territory!
He knew what it is like to be in a state of need, but he also knew what it was like to have enough, to have plenty.
He learned the secret of being content! What is this secret?
In any and every situation- whether he had enough to eat or was lacking in any area. Whether good or bad situations. The secret- I can do all this through Him who gives me strength!
You have probably seen the acronym FROG. This stands for Fully Rely On God. I see here that Paul fully relied on God in his life. This is how he lived in contentment and this is how we can live in contentment as well.
Our Circumstances
Our pantry is full or it is bare
We have clothes or we don’t
We can pay our bills or we can’t
We have a home to live in or we don’t
We are warm or cold
We are healthy or we are unhealthy
We are living well, there is money in the bank, or we barely have enough or are completely depleted of all resources
Our family cares or does not care about us
We have friends or do not
We have a job or do not
We don’t have a serious health diagnosis or we do and we have no idea how things will turn out. We don’t know how we will fund it, we have no idea how sick we will get when our treatment begins.
We have transportation or do not
We are safe or are not
We are too busy or have a calm, peaceful life
We follow God or not
We are content or are not
Our children are well or are not
We hurt emotionally or we are fine, no real issues we deal with
We are anxious about the future or are not
In Our Culture
Somethings we wish for in the western world, in the current culture are really not important. We hope our circumstances go a certain way like for example- I wish my house was more decorated or I wish I could have a bigger Christmas, that my kids and grandchildren could all come for the holidays. The party that my friends were all invited to, I wish I was invited as well. We certainly can be content even when our lives are “less than” how we want it. Unfortunately, people are not content though. Do we allow our culture to dictate our contentment and joy?
Often we are in the middle somewhere of many of these circumstances. At any point though, change may happen. Where will we look for peace and contentment? Will we be content regardless of our circumstances? Remember Job in the Old Testament? He was content even when he lost everything.
“… Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “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 1:20-21
“Little James”
While we were watching the start of the new season 3 of The Chosen series last weekend, the younger, “Little James” as he is called in the series, had an important conversation with Jesus. He didn’t understand why Jesus would have him go and minister to others, including healing others when Jesus hadn’t healed him yet. He was still sick and tired of struggling.
Try To See His Purpose
He didn’t understand the purpose Jesus had for him. Why is this, we ask? Jesus told him, (and I will paraphrase this), that the Lord doesn’t use others the same way as he will use James if he doesn’t go share, heal and minister. There will be some people who won’t be reached by just anyone who goes to tell them of Jesus. Unless someone who is broken and messed up, relates to them, they won’t hear, know and then believe. This means that we have to be content in our circumstances, regardless of what our circumstances are. God can use us if we are willing and are content, “even if.”
How Will You Still Be Content?
I wonder, what is your “even If”? Will you still be content? God is gracious and does not want you to suffer, but He also has a plan for you in all that He does.
No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB
I would recommend adjusting two of your Circumstances list:
"We follow God or not," and "We are anxious about the future or not."
Following Jesus is the reason for Paul's contentment... and ours.
And that contentment means we will not be anxious, as Jesus instructed us not to be.
❤️&🙏, c.a.