Contentment is Great Gain

Years ago, the Lord began to deal with me regarding my desires. My desires for life, my wants, my dreams. “Are you willing to lay it all down for me?” He asked.  I said, “Yes.”

When we say yes to the Lord, we never know what the future holds, but one thing will always hold true, He will give you what the world knows not of. Amid the sorrow, difficulties, and disappointments of this life He can give peace, joy, and contentment in the deepest of valleys.

Wherever you find yourself in life in this moment, He can do what otherwise would be impossible. The Bible is full of verses to lead us to this miraculous place. He desires for us to be able to walk through the most crushing circumstances and remain in His peace and contentment. You may say that contentment in your situation is impossible. How can I be content in the valley of the shadow of death? I asked the same question. How can I walk through such hardship and find this place of peace and contentment; it seemed unreachable to me.

The world affirms many to reach contentment this way, “ “Figure out a course of action for achieving the goals you set and start when you’re ready. Having a plan in place can ease the itch significantly, and if you keep your head down and do the work to reach the goal, to get to the point where you want to be, I can promise you that with time you’ll get there.” From psychologytoday.com. I tried this first and it only ended in failure as the work of the flesh always does.

Oftentimes when we desire certain places in the Lord, we like to try to do it ourselves instead of waiting for the Lord to “make us lie down in green pastures.” We work in the flesh in order to achieve this place in the spirit. This will never be accomplished. Sadly, this is an utter impossibility that leads masses into an endless quest for peace and rest and yet they only find disappointment and death.

The world’s way always leads to death, but our Father’s way always leads from death to life. And because His way is not our way, we get there by doing the opposite of what the world affirms! We can rest in Him and cease from our own works by surrender.

The work of the flesh is completely exhausting! I have learned this the hard way and have found the Lord’s mercy is new every morning and His grace is sufficient; Praise God He does it! He never leaves us in this place if we allow the deserts and valleys to work in us.

The working of the Spirit can be like sandpaper to a wound, but if we trade our desires for His desires, we will walk on ground we never believed possible. Surrendering to His working no matter how painful will bring life even in the midst of darkness and pain. The life that comes may not be the life we had been waiting for, looking for or working towards, but it is a life of the Spirit of God. Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask and it shall be given unto you; seek and you shall find; knock and it will be opened unto you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.” We can have peace and contentment when our world is in chaos. What miracles He works!

I came across this definition of contentment, “happiness and satisfaction, often because you have everything you need.” We have everything we need! the finished work of Jesus Christ our Lord. How much richer could I be than to have Jesus with me. His love is far deeper than I could ever begin to imagine. I am so thankful He has helped me find Him and to choose Him among the shadows of death; He can do the same for you. He can give you rest for your weary soul, peace when life seems to be crumbling and contentment in the trial you face.

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you” Matthew 6:33

“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me: your mercy, O Lord, endures forever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” Psalm 138:8

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