Finding True Contentment

Finding true contentment is something that I have been searching for this past year. I don’t think I ever tried to search it out, or even try to understand what it meant before. In all the years of growing up in a Christian home you would think that I would have, but it is just never something I have thought about. While trying to be minimal, and live more simply I have been forced to think about it. Why was I always wanting something else? Understandably contentment is not something that comes naturally.

So How Do We Find Contentment?

So how do we find true contentment? Does it just happen when we try to focus on what we value in life? Do we have contentment if we just try really hard? While reading the book, ” The Art of Divine Contentment” I am realizing more and more that it comes only from God. I cannot ever be content apart from Him. This struck me as I was reading Thomas Watson’s words,

“Contentment is a divine thing; it becomes ours, not by acquisition, but by infusion. It is a slip taken off from the tree of life and planted by the spirit of God in the soul. It is a fruit that grows not in the garden of philosophy, but it is of a heavenly birth. It is, therefore, very observable that contentment is joined with godliness.”

From the Book The Art of Divine Contentment by Thomas Watson

True Contentment Comes from Him Alone

This is just so good, and I realized without really knowing that If I was spending quality time with God that I was content. I was completely unwanting of things I did not have, and I was so thankful for that. I did not really think about the word for it as I was experiencing it. It is so incredible that it is something that God gives us as we are seeking Him. This is why I wrote the post called, ” What we focus on Matters”, because It truly does. Our discontent is only quieted by His voice.

After discovering this I realized just how difficult it can be, and it is something that you must daily seek God for. It is especially true as we are bombarded with all of the lives of others on a regular basis through social media. If we are rich we want more, and if we are poor we want things we do not have.

1 Timothy 6: 6-10

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.“

The Bible ESV

I often quote this verse on social media, because it is just relevant to my life right now. I try to find all of the things to fill me from the world, and that just not how to be content. There was a one more quote I wanted to include from Thomas Watson that is just too good to not share,

” Why do you complain of your troubles? It is not trouble that troubles, but discontent. It is not the water outside the ship, but the water that gets within the leak which drowns it. It is not outward affliction that can make the life of a Christian sad; a contented mind would sail above these waters. But when a leak of discontent open and trouble gets in the heart, then it is disquieted and sinks. Do, therefore, as the mariners: pump the water out and stop this spiritual leak in your soul, and no trouble can hurt you.”

Thomas Watson

Such A Powerful Thing To Find True Contentment in Him

It is such a powerful quote that speaks to how easy it is to become discontent. I am constantly in awe of the power of Christ to be able to silence our discontent just like that. Doesn’t that just give you so much peace? That all we have to do is come to Him, seek His face for our contentment. You don’t need to do anything else.

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This is something that I daily have to ask God for. It is not something that will ever come naturally for me. I am constantly going to Him, and being fulfilled by Him. Then realizing my mistakes over and over again. I am so thankful that He will give us rest, true rest from the constant need to want things we do not have.

Matthew 11: 28-30

” Come to me all who are labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. “

John 4:13-15

“Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”