I think this is a question that we all need to ask ourselves. If you are anything like me, you know that contentment ebbs and flows. But how can we remain consistent in being content?
Well, that’s what we are going to talk about. I have found myself in a season of waiting. You probably hear this and think, “Oh yeah, this is probably going to be the same as any of those other posts… reminding me to be patient and trust God.” And although those points are true. I’m not here to tell you the same repetitive truths about the waiting.
Instead, I want to focus on the fact that whether you are waiting or going full speed ahead, living the dream of your career, study goals, or mission goals, a part of you knows that you aren’t okay. A part of you knows that you are missing something… When the quiet kicks in, when the busy day ends, when the loneliness is all you feel, THAT'S WHEN YOU START LONGING.
Contentment is more than just being grateful for our circumstances; it’s being at peace and rest, even when we see and feel the needs in our lives that aren’t met.
I’m here to tell you that it sucks! It is hard! It’s draining… that it’s easy to numb out and ignore the reality of the ‘hard.’ BUT with tears filling my eyes, I hear the Father, I say, "It’s okay, you are going to be okay…
Do you know why you’ll be okay? Because He is enough. Because He has you. And because you have been trying to do life on your own. He never asked you to do that, turn to Him and He will give you rest. (Read Matthew 11:25-30).
This hits deep! Please don’t just ignore this! You are worth fighting for, and I write this because I’ve been there. I’ve hit rock bottom. I’ve hit the places where I never thought I would go. I’ve felt the pain of heartbreak, I’ve felt the joy of living the dream, yet missing something. I’ve felt all alone in a sea of people. I’ve felt allergic to people in a season of burnout. I’ve been exhausted to the point of, honestly, feeling purposeless.
I hoped for more in my life, when all God wanted was for me to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10).
But do you know what? All of this, too, had a purpose. It taught me where my dependence was… It taught me that my goal wasn’t heaven. My heart wasn’t all in for the purpose of being known by Jesus. A part of me always wanted to feel known by the world, by the ones around me. And this is me while knowing and walking closely with Jesus.
The point is, unless we are willing to surrender everything, we simply miss the point.
We miss the purpose of why He came to save us from ourselves. We miss the point that JESUS IS THE ONLY ONE WHO can fill that void within our soul.
Contentment isn’t a one-size-fits-all concept… It’s more than just circumstances, it’s deeper… It looks at the heart and bears the daily question,
Is Jesus enough for you? Personally?
So, I ask you in love, is Jesus enough for you?
This week, pray this:
Lord, would you please show me the areas where I have not made you LORD in my life? Please show me the areas that I need to desperately surrender in order to live with You at the centre. Please forgive me for not making You enough and for finding other ways to numb my life. Thank You that You never leave me, and I ask the Lord, would You please help me to turn away from my ways (including my sin) that keep me from going deeper with You. Lord, would You please help me to make You the centre and the most important thing in my life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
May this encourage you that you are not fighting this battle alone… we are all in it together, in the good days and harder days. We all fight this battle whether we have walked with the LORD for years, seem mature in our faith, or have just started on this faith journey. He calls each of us deeper, and I’m on this journey with you, too. These words are just as much for me as I believe they are for you.
We can be consistent in containment when we truly believe that Jesus is enough… not just a concept we understand about the LORD, but BELIEVE it in our hearts. Otherwise, we will constantly be searching for the next thing to fill us!
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