Contentment in God’s Provision

Outside of peace of mind, contentment is the rarest commodity on the planet.

Our society is the most advanced, connected, wealthy, and educated of all time, and yet anxiety, depression and stress are through the roof for the majority of the population. It begs to have the question answered of why, and I submit that the root of many of these issues stem from a genuine lack of contentment.

Years ago, I was a truck junkie. I craved new vehicles, and I would do whatever it took to have the latest and greatest in my driveway at all times. Stewardship was a foreign concept, and the only question I ever had was how much the payment was. From there, it truly didn’t matter if negative equity would be rolled into new loans as long as the vehicle I wanted came home with me.

From big tires, to exhaust, to sun roofs, oh how contentment alluded me. Each time I left the dealership with that brand new car smell, I felt a hit of dopamine that could not be explained. I would think to myself, “Now I am happy." The funniest and saddest example of this was just before I got married, and I was talking to my then fiancé on the phone while getting a new vehicle serviced. I told her I just saw a new Jeep that looked great, and I was going to take it for a test drive. Now remember, I was at the dealership to get my new vehicle serviced and had this majestic idea.

The next thing I knew, I was in a finance office signing the paperwork for the Jeep and down the road I went. What I thought was contentment was always in the next vehicle, and for that reason, I never truly enjoyed or appreciated any of the ones I owned.

It wasn’t until some financial hardships occurred that the concept of stewardship was introduced and some radical repentance had to occur. I learned that happiness could not be found in a vehicle and that the joy I was searching for was closely coupled to contentment. We decided to take a completely new position regarding vehicles and now drive older models, and yet, I have never felt this level of contentment as I know that God will provide what is needed for our family at all times.

Even now, we are prayerfully asking God what He desires for a vehicle as our family has grown and the needs have changed. Thankfully, we trust in His provision and will lean on Him to guide us through the decision-making process.

It appears that contentment occurs when we recognize that our happiness is not found in our happenings. Circumstances change, life happens, and when we try to tie our emotional well-being to anything other than Christ, we will come up empty-handed. Instead, focusing on joy brings something so much better, and that contentment will fill you with the peace that passes all understanding and that is worth getting excited about.

As we finish up, I encourage you to do a self-assessment. Think about the moments in life that bring you joy and trace it back to the source of the provision. If done honestly, this exercise will have God batting 100% as it should be. He loves you, He wants the best for you, He wants you to have nice things, He just doesn't want the nice things to have you.

Discipleship is learning to discern between wants and needs and having the strength to take the right path. You can do this, and as you grow in Christ each day, keep seeking His guidance, listening to His voice, and taking the steps of obedience that He is calling you to. Remember, He will always provide your needs and that you can be assured of.

Questions to Consider:

1. How do you define contentment in your own life?
2. Can you recall a time when you chased after material possessions rather than finding contentment in Christ?

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Thank You

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