Did you know that the famous verse, Philippians 4:13, is about contentment? See Paul’s train of thought from verse 10 and following:

10 “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Paul is revealing a major truth about the Christian life. No matter the circumstances, even in the hard times, God wants to teach us how to be content. How is it possible to have this mindset? What does it really mean to be content?

👉Contentment is Taught, Not Caught

Suffering is inescapable. As we wait for Christ’s return, we are called to be holy, avoid grumbling, and have joy. This expectation is a high bar. “You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit” is NOT what is meant by Christian contentment. It is also not God’s expectation that you seek to merely remove whatever affliction is plaguing you to escape.

Have you ever prayed that God would make you more patient? That God would give you strength? That God would soften your heart? Typically, God answers these prayers through providential opportunities to learn through experience. If you want to learn contentment, you must lean on God to teach you satisfaction during times that you would typically be discontent.

In Jeremiah Burroughs’ famous, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, he writes a couple of chapters about how Jesus teaches contentment. Among the many lessons he artfully outlines, Burroughs tells his readers that a posture of self-denial is necessary. We must have a biblically proportional view of ourselves.

Though we are made in the image of God, on our own, Burroughs writes, we deserve nothing, we are capable of nothing (John 15:5), and we are worse than nothing due to our sin. Anything we receive is from the mercy and grace of God. Christ emptied Himself of all His divine privileges and rights so that He could die for us. What an example of righteous contentment!

Yet, there is more to contentment than simply viewing ourselves in a dimmer light. Perhaps your source of discontentment is from an overemphasis on self-deprecating qualities, or a deep sadness that is difficult to look beyond. In this, consider an opportunity.

👉You Are an Emissary and a Soldier

Why would God leave His people on the fallen earth after their conversion? What is the benefit to keeping His adopted children under strain and toil in the presence of sin and decay? In short, because Christians are emissaries. An emissary is a person sent on a special mission, typically as a representative of a governing body or king.

You likely heard the Gospel from another Christian or from resources produced by another Christian. God’s ordained means of bringing more people to Himself is through other redeemed people. God’s desire would be that His glory covers the globe and reaches every people group (Hab 2:14)

One way God’s glory is revealed is through His people living out His character in their own lives. Contentment is a result of a settled spirit of hope beyond the grave. To be content is to trust God’s word and hope in His promises. Christians going through the worst situations have the greatest opportunity to do the work of emissaries by showing God’s promises to be both beautiful and believable.

Paul provides another perspective for Christians who endure suffering: “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim 2:3). If Christians understand that their time spent in suffering is time spent as a soldier for the faith, the suffering may not subside, but contentment and perseverance would prevail.

Listen to Jeremiah Burroughs’ description of this reality: “The very thought of the condition of a soldier is enough to still his disquiet heart. When he is away, he does not enjoy such comforts in his quarters as he has in his own home…and he thinks to himself, ‘I am a soldier and it is suitable to my condition." How odd would it be to see a soldier in the battlefield unceasingly requesting all of the comforts he typically enjoys at home?

Contentment does not alleviate suffering. Contentment does not downplay suffering. Contentment simply reveals a heart of trust and dependance on God despite any outside pressures. Contentment takes conscious practice and prayer. God’s promises are beautiful and believable, and therefore hope and trust are possible. A new day is coming!