Contentment During Change

by Betsy Cahill / Preschool Finance Assistant

There is a lot of change coming into my life in the near future. My husband is getting ready to retire and all of the sudden he will be home 24/7. I love my husband, but in the past it was between the hours of 6pm and 7am. Now we will have to fill up that time in the middle. Also, he really wants to move back to North Carolina and get away from the snow, which I understand in theory; I’m just not that excited about in practice. Moving is not fun (in case you didn’t know). I have been seeking the Lord for wisdom, discernment, and especially peace about all of this.

I want to face all of these changes in my life in a way that honors God. I need to learn to be content whatever the circumstances may be.

John MacArthur recently spent two days on his radio program speaking about contentment. He based his sermon on Philippians 4:10-13:

“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

John says that contentment has to be learned and that there are five principles to do this.

1. Trust in God’s providence: this is believing that God works everything out to His own will.
   
2. Be satisfied with little: I need to get to the point where I can say, “I have nothing and I need nothing.” We are working on downsizing our possessions and I need to learn to live with less. In our culture today, this is not an easy thing to do. If we want it, we buy it, and the world of advertising makes sure to let us know that we have to have it.
   
3. Be independent from circumstances: this is a tough one. I need to learn to be indifferent to my circumstances; good or bad. All of my satisfaction should come from my relationship to the Lord.
   
4. Be sustained by Divine Power: infused with His strength to endure any difficulty. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” One of my favorite Bible verses is Nehemiah 8:10b, “And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
   
5. Be preoccupied with the well-being of others: this means being consumed with meeting other peoples’ needs. John says, “Selfish people are never content.”

As you can see, I’ve get my work cut out for me. I have a lot of learning to do; but day by day, with the help of the Holy Spirit, nothing is impossible.