Contentment

“Godliness is actually a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”  1 Timothy 6:6 NASB. 

For most of us, 2020 has not been a vision of radiance and pleasure. Instead it’s been a hard season where we have to fight disappointment, frustration, and fear. Paul tells Timothy that we will move forward when we combine Godliness and contentment.  We know we are called to be Godly.  But have you ever felt like contentment is an option, a choice? I don’t know what your personality is like, but for me, contentment doesn’t come naturally.  Instead of just “getting by,” I have felt the Lord tug on my heart and say, “fight for contentment.”

My desire is to wake up every day, even in this hard season of quarantine, and say, “This is the day which the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24.  Very practically, what must I do to live this way?  As I have pondered this question, I have come to the realization that contentment must be rooted and grounded in a trust in God.  I must believe that God is for me and not against me.  He has good plans for me.  He is in control of my life, and I can have hope because He is all-powerful.  In view of this, I must continually give thanks to God for His love, His provision (even when I don’t see it), His care, and His help.  I know this is “back to the basics” stuff, but sometimes we just need to cling to the truth.