Contentment doesn’t come naturally to me. By nature, we as humans tend to fall in the opposite direction of dissatisfaction and complaining. Grumbling comes much easier to us than gratitude and contentment. Even in times when we are well-fed and overflowing with abundance, we can most likely still find something to complain about. It can even be easy to bond with one another over our dissatisfaction with the weather, day of the week, lack of money, etc. But I believe that God has much more for us, not just in the most ordinary days, but also in the days where it can feel easy to grumble or operate out of a scarcity mindset.
These verses show us that we have the secret to all circumstances. We have the King of the Universe as our Father; a Father who does not run out of goodness or love for us. There are no longer situations for us to carry on our shoulders because he now places them on his shoulders. There is nowhere else we need to look for satisfaction when he fills us up with fulfillment and peace. He can do all things, and he is the one who is able to keep you from stumbling. Candidly, a life without grumbling can seem unrealistic and impossible sometimes. But here’s what’s incredible about this passage… Paul shows us that it is possible to have a life of complete contentment in Christ. Though Paul is physically imprisoned, he is experiencing freedom and full contentment in Jesus. We don’t have to worry about a year from now, a month from now, or even tomorrow. I encourage you to ask yourself today what it would look like to be completely content right now. What would change about your life? I don’t say this to discourage, but rather, I hope it encourages you to remember that the secret to contentment is real… the Lord does not make empty statements or promises. I pray that this truth sinks and settles in for you not only today, but everyday.