Category: Contentment

My Dearest Sister,

I wanted to tell you about the recent trip I took to visit Ike and Lauren.  The weekend had so many variants that it actually reminded me of the texture of a fine fabric.  The different people and personalities, the arrival and departure of the different parties of people, the laughter had by everyone, the smiles and affectionate hugs that were spread around, the sheer excitement of seeing Isaac doing what he has dreamt of doing since he was a little boy, and watching the little kiddos toddle about soaking in the love by anyone who would take the time to interact with them, made it the memorable time that it was.  This mom’s heart was so full, and quite content I might add!  So much so, that when it was time to say goodbye the tears came and my heart began to sink into discontentment.  I think you know what I am speaking of; that muddy rut that you and I get stuck in every once in a while.  That rut that says, “It’s not enough! You must have more!”

I am happy, not to mention thankful, to tell you that on the long ride home from Alabama I became unstuck from that pitiful rut.  I didn’t do it alone.  No, it took something, indeed someone, far greater than me to get me out of that place.  I had the help of the Wonderful Counselor, the Holy Spirit.  He was so gracious to restrain my heart from the nose dive it was taking into that rut.  His word was like a crane that lifted me up and out of that wicked rut of discontentment and redirected the path that my heart was taking me.  The Lord led me “onto a path of righteousness for His name’s sake”. (Psalm 23:4)

God’s Word reminded me that, as Jeremiah Burroughs once put it, my “contentment is not by addition, but by subtraction”.  It is when my “desires” decrease that I become satisfied or “content” in Christ alone.  How strange, it is that when I take away all of my “I wants” which is a subtraction, that I gain!!! I think I have heard this before.

“Godliness with contentment is great gain.”  I Timothy 6:6

So, sweet sister, I gained so much from this visit with Ike and Lauren and I wanted to share that with you! I wanted you to know that God was merciful to me in exposing to me what ruts lie in my heart and that by His grace I was lifted up out of that rut and put a right onto the path of contentment in Christ my Savior.

Well, enough of looking back, now I must look ahead so that I might not fall into another one of those ruts!  I will pray that this letter helps you to avoid the ones that lie in your heart as well.  I will pray that your contentment will be in Christ alone.  Which is the greatest gain of all!

Your Grateful Sister,

Susan

Dear Sister,
I remember a quote from Wendell Calder almost 20 years ago during the first sermon I heard at Bible College, “Carnation Condensed Milk, the milk from contented cows”.  He was remarking how much better milk would taste from a contented cow grazing on green pastures with all its needs met.  I agree.  I would much rather drink milk from a cow that was content than one that was not content.

But what is contentment?  Paul remarks that he had learned to be content in all circumstances of life (green pastures or not) when he wrote to the Philippians in a jail cell (Phil 4:11).  We also know that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim 6:6).  But what is it and how do I get it (green pastures or not)?  The dictionary defines it as “satisfaction”.  I like that.  Satisfaction.  What with and when am I satisfied?  When my daughter is giving me a big gummy smile?  When my husband and I are relaxed with our feet up on the couch watching a TV show before the end of another busy day?  When I have the perfect cup of coffee complimented by a morsel of dark chocolate?  Mmmm…satisfaction…contentment.  Is that what it means?

It has to be more than that as not all of us can experience those things.  Not all of us are married or blessed with children.  Not all of us have a husband that we want to snuggle up to.  Not all of us like coffee and most of us need to be off of chocolate.  So how can we women be contentment when we have an argument with our husbands, our babies are crying, or a loved one dies?  Is it an impossible thing?  It is without Christ.

Paul has it right in Philippians when he says that his contentment comes from Christ who strengthens him (Phil 4:13).  We can’t be content in our own strength (green pastures or not).  On this earth we will never be satisfied or content because it is not our home.  Praise God we have hope of satisfaction and contentment for eternity with Christ, which begins the moment we trust in Jesus!  Our contentment is IN Jesus Christ and what He accomplished on the cross; the forgiveness of our sins.  When Christ is enough for us, we will be content in all things (green pastures or not).  When is it that you feel most satisfied?  I’m not sure about you sister, but for me, it is when I have completed what I was supposed to for the day.  How much more content we would be if we knew and completed our purpose in life.  So what is this purpose of life?  To glorify God and enjoy him forever!  John Piper says, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”  So not only will we have contentment, we will glorify God!

So sweet sister, are you content with Christ?  Is Christ enough for you?  Do you need Christ plus happy children to be satisfied?  Do you need Christ plus a good marriage to be content?  Can you glorify God in what you do each day from breakfast to brushed teeth?

I think back to that contented cow and how much I would want that milk over an unsatisfied cow’s milk.  When we drink of Christ, though the bitterness of this world slams on us, people will see our contentment and want to be a part of it.  Sweet sister, what does your label read?

Your Satisfied Sister,

Colleen