Winnie the Pooh was one of my favorite characters growing up. Pooh is really a pretty good example of contentment. Let’s face it — if Pooh had some honey — he was happy. One of my most poignant childhood memories is that of waiting, wishing and wanting to go and see Pooh at Sears. Of course, it was not the real Pooh, just a man in a costume. Have you ever stopped to compare yourself to a fictional character such as in the story of Winnie the Pooh? In the Hundred Acre Wood, who would you most resemble? A lot of people have what they would term “eeyore moments.” I have met and talked with some people who are having an “eeyore life.”
The sad thing is many people are just anesthetized to emotion. They are not content but they are not complaining either. I believe this is a dangerous emotional state of being. You can simply become numb. Something we common folk might refer to as the survival mode. Check your emotional pulse? Hello, is there anyone home or did you check out somewhere between your third child and second mortgage?
The alarm goes off and it’s time to get up and start another day in this “jungle” we refer to as middle class America. Pay the bills, wash the car, mow the yard, get the groceries, make the beds, feed the dog, for heaven’s sake the cat’s are making picket signs, there is piano after school for one child and basketball for another, gas prices are sky high, probably need to try and get second job; not to mention the relationships we try to foster and feed, nurture somehow in spite of this never ending to do list. There is so much to do in one day. Those are our thoughts often before our feet even hit the floor. It’s overwhelming to say the least. Do you think times like these and a life this stretched can drain you until you are fully spent? If you allow it to, yes it can and it most certainly will.
As a single mom of two teenagers, one preteen, one grown daughter, one house, one car, a dog, four cats, and several goldfish to care for plus I am operating in full time ministry, ETC. I have a battle on my hands before we got past the two teenagers. Who by the way both have their driving permits. “I am a woman of faith and that not by choice!” I have been down on the ropes so hard and so far when I looked up I saw the canvas. Have you ever felt the drudgery of one more day on planet earth? There is nothing new under the sun. Every day is the same. Day in and day out; responsibility, relationships, pressure, and tension are likely to define most every moment. Calgon can’t even take you away.
In this constant state of stress we all can experience each day, what can we do to NOT “just survive”; is it possible to experience peace, fulfillment and true contentment?
Hopefully, there are a few things I am learning that will encourage you.
Hasten towards Humility
Considering others needs more important than your own. Philippians 2:3….Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
This is the greatest challenge I fight each day. My biggest giant to overcome is not the problems brought from raising teenagers, it’s ME. Mine, mine, mine the raging selfishness that is pervasive to our culture and lifestyles. We want it our way! And we want it NOW!! However, it is the most amazing phenomenon that happens to me from the inside out when I truly stop to consider the needs of others. There are so many people with so many needs all around us every day. They need love & encouragement, healing, help, finances, homes, transportation, prayer, support, friendship and the list could keep going and going. Remember that it is more blessed to give than to receive. In Christ’s economy, somehow in giving we do receive. When I find myself feeling discouraged, I choose to think of someone else who has it more difficult than I do and pray for them and ask God how I might be a blessing to them that day. Luke 6:38 NIV “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Choose Contentment
Contentment defined by Webster is satisfaction and ease of mind. The act of making contentedly satisfied. The only synonym listed I found was the word “happiness.”
God’s Word says “Godliness with contentment is great gain”, 1 Timothy 6:6 (New King James Version). I think that stability is synonymous with contentment. The contented feeling is one of solidity. Where you know you are ok no matter what happens in your day, good or bad, everything is going to be alright. This takes trusting God with all your heart and leaning not on your own reasoning. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Thinking too much will always destroy the contented heart. You must learn to release these stresses to the one who is able to handle our lives. God is able to handle them in every way. In Him there is no lack. Hebrews 11:1 states that it is impossible to please God without faith. It is also impossible to live contented and peaceful lives of ease without faith. Faith is not only believing God can but that He will. He is on top of it. He’s got this! I don’t know about you, but that makes me very happy. I now have a reason to turn that frown upside down. My Father is the Creator of the universe and He is control.
Be Thankful in All Things
1 Thessalonians 5:18
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. The other day I was complaining to my daughter Melanie about driving so much and gas prices, etc. Sound familiar? Then in mid sentence I started thanking God for transportation. I told the Lord I knew there were a lot of people without transportation and wish they had a car or money for gas. I also thanked Him for the ability to drive. There are so many people who are disabled or in bad health and unable to drive themselves around town. You see how easy it is for us to forget to “give thanks in all things?” There are so many blessings and provisions we take for granted. We can be thankful each day, each moment for the grace of God on our lives. He is such an amazing God. Slow towards anger with us yet rich in mercy and compassionate beyond measure. Psalm 40:1-5 For His mercy alone we give Him praise.
Anchored Always in Christ
Philippians 4:13 (New King James Version) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
While this text can be ministered by the Holy Spirit to diverse trials and challenges we may face, these words penned by the Apostle Paul were written in the context of contentment. Let’s read a bit further in this passage…verse 11-12 say this, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” See what Paul is saying here? He had learned not to be concerned with earthly things for contentment. He knew he would always have what he needed because of Christ. One huge source of discontentment in our culture today is not getting what we want. What you want and what you need may be two different things. We must learn to praise our Heavenly Father who knows what we need! As a child of the King you are able to cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you, 1 Peter 5:7. Philippians 4:19, a little further down in the same passage, “My God shall supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus:” This is a promise of God. Do you hear the verb tense in that sentence…shall supply? This is a tense of the verb indicating a continual action on the part of our God through Christ supplying all that we require for life and godliness. We are not living in the fictional Hundred Acre Wood of Christopher Robin. However, even in our reality we can have our hearts anchored deep in Jesus Christ.
Contentment is a key to success in any and every situation of life. The heart that is anchored in Christ hastening to humility and always giving thanks will choose to be content in every circumstance.
