People spend a lot of time searching for the perfect fit. We think there is a perfect mate, a perfect house, or that perfect dress. We believe our hearts will guide us in the right direction. We will know it when we see it. And so often our hearts disappoint us. The perfect mate has problems of his own. The perfect house has a leak. The perfect dress will not fit forever. For all the perfection we may seek in life, we are actually looking for a life of contentment. And what is contentment? What is that elusive feeling of happiness and satisfaction?
1. Contentment is not having everything you want or even everything you need. One of the biggest lies we have accepted is that happiness comes from an easy life. If you have everything at your fingertips, if you never long for anything, if money or finances are never a burden, then you will be happy. Money makes life easier. Things provide a lot of entertainment and a lot of attention. But wealth does not buy happiness. No matter how much you eat you will still be hungry again in a few hours. No matter how many things you acquire, you will still need more stuff. No matter how many people surround you, you will still desire love. We can never put our hopes of finding contentment on the things that surround us. In reality, contentment is finding happiness in the things that have been provided for you and the knowledge that all good things come from the Father above (Heb. 13:5).
2. Contentment is not a constant emotional high. I wish everyday I greeted the sunrise and the chirping birds with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. However, that is not the case. I often wake up feeling like cotton is in my head and a strong desire to go back to sleep. Sadly, a lot of people have tricked themselves into thinking that unless they are the picture of merriment everyday then they are not content. Thankfully contentment is more than just smiles and good times. Contentment is peace and satisfaction (Phil. 4:6-7). Contentment is knowing that we have a Father in Heaven who will someday take us to a new home where joy is infinite and tears will cease to flow.
3. Contentment is not being problem free. Every life has struggles. Every person has trials. We may experience financial difficulties or health problems. We many never find a person to share our life with or have children. We may never achieve all of our goals, but we can still find happiness. If we believe we can only find contentment when we get over all of our problems, then we will never find contentment. All of the effort we put into making our problems disappear will distract us from putting our efforts into what matters most – living our life for Christ. The more we concentrate on ourselves, the less we concentrate on the God that loves us. The more problems we see in our lives, the less we see of the Joys that God has given us. Life is full of problems. But we have a God that can carry them. Life is full of disappointments, but we have a God who is full of blessings.
Contentment is peace with the Father. If we have set our eyes upon the author of our being, if our desire is to live for Him each day, if our hearts are in communion with Him, then our lives will find a contentment far richer than what the world has to offer. No longer will the things of the earth matter to us. The emotional highs of humanity will pale in comparison to the future happiness we will find in heaven. The problems that plague us will be no longer be carried alone but with a God who promised to carry our burdens. The search for contentment is not realized in the things that the world has to offer. Contentment is found in the hopes Heaven promises us (1 Tim. 6:8).
–Christa Bryant