Contentment’s Hiding Place
I have discovered some unique things from this place of contentment. When you are looking for satisfaction in imperfect things like a church service, a spouse, children, home-making, and job performance, it’s nearly impossible to escape the loop of complaining and bitterness. You will evaluate everything, all the time, because you want “everything” to become your preference. A content soul in Jesus is not searching because it has already found him. It’s settled and unshaken by the methods of lifestyles around it. This soul has discovered the person who holds contentment and has traded everything in order to remain in his presence.
“…be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 ESV
I have Jesus, therefore I am content. I had him before though, so why wasn’t I content? Back then, the object of my contentment was not Christ, it was my wife, my church, my job, my spirituality, my home, my money, my children’s obedience, my friendships. Everyone of them had let me down, except Christ. Imperfect things will give you a false contentment. They will reveal their imperfection when they fail to meet your expectations—and they will fail.
God never fails. He is now the person to where my contentment flows from. He’s a spring of living contentment, and the best part is, there is no need of payment. You might ask, “How did you find this well?” I didn’t. He brought it to me. I was at the end of my search, exhausted and completely disappointed by the results of my labor. Nothing made me happy. Nothing satisfied my longing. “Everything is meaningless” was my slogan. Solomon taught me that one.
Can I introduce you to Jesus? He has satisfied my thirst with living water, and he has given me fresh eyes to see the world. Everything is a gift. Church is absolutely incredible. Pastors can preach the weakest sermon and what I see now is a man who is trying to be faithful in teaching, and that faithfulness to the word makes me smile. My bride is gorgeous. I see a woman who gives herself away daily, not an object for my needs. My job is peaceful. It’s a learning ground to accept my limitations and be the best at what I’m gifted at, not what my co-worker is good at. My performance is steady, not unstable in its pursuit of excellent evaluations.
I have found the rhythm of life in the contentment of Christ.
What a wonderful way to live on this ever failing planet. He has quenched my thirst and yet I’m still drinking from his well. His presence is addicting. It wakes me up in the early hours of the morning and it draws my mind into serenity in the evenings. I found it. I found contentment’s hiding place. It’s Jesus. Can I tell you about the man who told me everything I had ever done wrong and still handed me a cup full of grace?
Something amazing has happened. God has rebuilt my foundation, and he has named it “Delight.” He has given me delight in him and now everything else is a gift. My home is a wonderful mess, my church is beautifully broken, my vacations are just an extension of my work week so I can discover him, and my spiritual disciplines have been activated because of my gratitude from his appearances. Delight has birthed habit, not the inverse. He has given me what I truly desire. The desire that was in me at birth but became buried with lesser loves over my 35 years of life.
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 ESV
It only works in that order. Delight births desires. He is my desire. This was his intention from the beginning. Hallelujah, I can see him for who he really is—wonderful!
