“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13
Contentment is something we all desire but rarely experience.
We long to feel happy, satisfied, and secure in our homes, jobs, and relationships. But, unfortunately, the materialistic and comparison-filled world we live in today eats away at any chance we have.
Marketers guarantee happiness when their product is purchased. Social media gives us an inside glimpse of what everyone else has and shines a spotlight on what we don’t have. And whenever we buy what we thought would make everything better or get to where we thought life would be fantastic, we only want more.
Recently, I was photographing a sunrise in our campground in Arizona. Far off in the distance, I could see this beautiful valley with small mountains on either side.
All I could think of was how much prettier the sunrise would be inside the valley. I fantasized about how much better my pictures would look. I got so caught up wanting to be somewhere else that I forgot the beauty surrounding me right where I was.
Have you ever been there? It probably wasn’t during a sunrise photoshoot, but I’m sure you can think of plenty of times you have fantasized about being somewhere else. Maybe you even compared yourself to someone who had what you wanted.
Vocabulary.com defines discontentment as “a longing for something better than the present situation.”
Man, I’ve been there too many times to count – and I’m sure you have too. Without realizing it, we allow the world to define what happiness, success, and security are, leaving us feeling stuck in a constant state of discontentment.
How do we change this? Rather than looking to the world for contentment, we must fix our eyes on the One who will strengthen us to be content.
In Philippians 4, Paul shares the secret to finding contentment.
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13
We’ve all heard the famous “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” verse. Whether from an athlete trying to win a game or the average Joe just trying to get through the rest of the day, we’ve heard this verse in the context of being strengthened to persevere and complete a specific task.
While the Holy Spirit is our Helper (John 15:26) and gives us power (Acts 1:8), that’s not what Paul is getting at in Philippians 4.
He says he can find contentment because Christ strengthens him to do so.
And you know what’s crazy? Paul was in prison when he was writing this! So if anyone had the right to want to be anywhere else doing anything else, it was Paul.
Instead of fantasizing about being somewhere else, though, he encouraged others in the faith to look to Jesus for strength.
If we keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), we won’t have to seek or yearn for anything else to bring us the satisfaction we desperately desire.
Likewise, we should keep our hearts set on thanksgiving.
“I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1
Despite the circumstances we’re going through, whether in a valley or on a mountaintop, there are always things to be thankful for.
God has done, is doing, and will continue to do wonderful deeds in our lives. So, instead of focusing on the discontentment stirring within, let’s give thanks to the Lord with all our hearts.
My sunrise shoot reminded me that instead of wasting time fantasizing about somewhere else, I could enjoy right where I was at. And you can do the same, friend.
When feelings of discontentment come – and they will come – look to Jesus for strength and remind yourself of what you do have rather than what you don’t have. Fix your eyes on the beauty that already surrounds you.
Check Out These Other Bible Verses About Contentment:
2 Corinthians 12:10
1 Timothy 6:6-8
Hebrews 13:5
