Paul knew the secret of contentment. What what can we learn from him?
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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.” Philippians 4:11-12
What is Paul’s secret here? He learned to look at his circumstance as neutral. He figured out how to take any and every circumstance and not attach a positive or negative feeling to it. He takes being in prison, being hungry, being without money, any and all of the things that Paul faced and He just looks at it for what it is.
You my friend are facing circumstances and you automatically attribute good or bad to it. You are single, just had a break up, grieving a loss, not loving your job, struggling with a friend, co-worker or family member, just moved, whatever your circumstances are they are yours. They are for you. I want to help you get to content no matter what. Paul’s life and words are an example to us.
Here are 3 things to do today to start to look at your circumstances the way Paul did.
Open up to the circumstance, don’t resist it.
Paul accepted whatever was handed to him. Jail, great… no financial support, ok… hungry, yes I can be hungry. I tend to take my circumstance and have this thought. “It shouldn’t be this way.” I fight it. I push whatever is there away. I want it different. I want what they have (marriage, friends, house, $, health) or I want what I think this stage in life should bring. BUT newsflash: you don’t have that! So pushing against it only adds unnecessary suffering and it doesn’t just go away. It makes it worse. Opening up looks like this, “Ok, this is for me. This circumstance doesn’t have to be negative or positive, it just is.” “I can handle ___________.” When we begin to think like that we don’t put as much energy into fighting against reality. We accept the circumstance for what it is and then we decide how we want to act in the midst of it. So Paul being fully open to jail and all it brings accepted it as an opportunity. He stepped into all that it could be for him. He wasted no energy fighting it and threw himself into using it to God’s advantage. What in this is an opportunity to be Christ to a lost world. What in this circumstance is God doing for me?
Don’t try and change it.
When we try and change something, we ultimately want to control it. We want it the way we want it and will do whatever it takes to get it that way. There is a belief here that is key to understand. You think life will be better when something, (marriage, dating, new job, less weight, $) happens. That is not true. Life is still 50% positive and 50% negative, it is just a different flavor. Paul knew life was no better someday in the future, than it is right now. He knew God works in every situation. Do you know that too? Do you cling to the fact that we don’t have to change anything for God to work in our circumstance? When we don’t try and change it we are ok with exactly what it is for as long as it is there.
Look for God’s goodness in the circumstance.
When we focus on eternal things our current circumstance is so small but still a part of His great story. What in your current circumstance is all about God? What is He doing because of this circumstance and how can we put our energy and effort into that? Paul was totally focused on kingdom work. He looks at everything through that lens and that is why he over and over talks about rejoicing, living like Christ, having an attitude like Christ, focusing on the good and letting go of all else.
The next verse is key. This one we hear often. Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. That is the key that unlocks this secret. Only through Christ can we accept our current circumstance, not try and change it and look for God’s goodness in it. That begins by thinking on purpose some key thoughts.
This is my current circumstance. I can do it with Christ. I can handle this. He can help me handle this. This is for me. I can look at it however I want, but however I choose to spin this story will be how I experience it. Nothing has to change. There is something amazing in letting go of controlling this. I don’t have to control this circumstance. I don’t need anything to change for me to be content. Contentment comes in knowing this is ok. Contentment comes in not fighting this reality. Contentment is a choice. I won’t be fully content until I am with God in heaven but until then I will seek contentment by believing this is good.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6
Here is to purposefully choosing contentment by practicing some of these thoughts. This is good. I don’t have to fight this. I don’t have to change this. This is a part of what God has for me. This is good.
Believing with you,
Angie
