19 Jan Contentment in Christ

The holiday season was the most wonderful time of year for some of us. For others of us, it provided a painful reminder of how broken the world is in which we live.

Many struggled with difficult life circumstances such as job loss. Others tried to make the best of what seemed to be less-than-adequate financial provision. Still more people found it challenging to deal with joyful celebrations without the ones they love. Regardless, the enemy takes every opportunity to tempt us to focus our attentions on what we lack instead of on what the Lord has provided.

I found myself in just that situation this past holiday season. Even though my home was filled with the love and laughter of my husband and children, I allowed myself to focus on the sadness because of the ones who could not share the holidays with me. There was an empty gnawing in my heart that I allowed to fester until I almost missed the joy that God had already so graciously given to me. My attention was on my lack, and I was blinded to the generous provision all around me. Perhaps I am not the only one with this tendency.

“There was an empty gnawing in my heart that I allowed to fester until I almost missed the joy that God had already so graciously given to me.”

As I was crying out to God one day about the pain and sadness deep in my heart, I felt Him leading me to count my blessings. I admit I began the exercise reluctantly. As I started to specifically list each, I suddenly felt something different growing in my heart and crowding out the emptiness that had seemed so insurmountable moments before. God opened my eyes to the riches of relationships that I enjoy both with family and with friends. He also showed me the priceless wealth of intangibles such as love, joy, and peace that reign in my home.

I am certainly not trying to minimize the loss so many of us feel during the holiday season. Life is hard, and all of our longings will only be truly satisfied when we one day see Jesus face to face. Until that time we can find encouragement in the Scriptures for how we are to live. During my time of struggle, I felt God leading me to stop focusing on my lack and instead meditate on 1 Timothy 6:6 which says that, “true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.” Contentment in Him, regardless of circumstance, is the key.

“Contentment in Him, regardless of circumstance, is the key.”

The Lord has provided such a wealth of blessings to all of us, but our enemy wants to blind us to that and focus our attention on what we are missing. Counting our blessings and practicing contentment in Christ provides a way for us to stand strong against these attacks that can be so detrimental during any season. Regardless of the lack we may feel in our lives, every one of us has something for which to be thankful. Join me in practicing gratitude, and let us start with the eternal life we have in Him this new year.

-Michelle Maenche