Contentment: Learning it (Keith Nurse)

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances … I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation

Philippians 4:11, 12 (NIV)

 

Contentment doesn’t come naturally. It’s something St Paul felt he had had to learn. In fact he feels this sufficiently strongly that he says virtually the same thing twice!

 

The 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon said “If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener’s care. Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated; it will not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can produce it, and even then we must be specially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in us.”

 

At this unexpected and uncertain time it can feel as if we need to use all our energy just to survive the challenges of everyday life. But in fact learning the source and nature of true contentment will better equip us handle them, and to continue to discover the life in all its fullness that Jesus has promised.

 

So how can we cultivate contentment in our lives? How can we tend the grace God has sown in us? How, more generally, can these days be an opportunity for us to learn, to grow, to thrive?

 

A prayer - Thank you, Lord, that you are always ready to teach us new things that help us find true contentment in you. Forgive us for times when we are driven by our own good intentions rather than pursuing your perfect plans for us, and help us to be people who are ready and eager to learn more about you day by day. Amen

 

Keith Nurse