Reading my daily bible today I was struck by the day's introductory devotional from Max Lucado.
“Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” John 6:35
It went on to remind us that there are times when the one thing we really want is the one thing we do not get. We pray and we wait and then pray and wait some more. But what if God says no to your request? What if He reminds you that you already have His grace and says that should be enough? Will you be content?
What a pertinent question and actually what does it mean to be content? Max Lucado says “content – A state of heart in which you would be at peace if God gave you nothing more than He already has”
I know contentment is something I have tried hard to work at over the last few years. I’ve very much realised that happiness does not come in the form of things or ‘more’. I recall a post I wrote on my other blog back in 2011 that said –
Do you know what I believe are two of the fundamental keys to happiness? One, is to choose to be happy and the other is to want what you already have! Endless seeking of things, money, status, time or anything else will never fulfil you!
My gut reaction is that I’ve done quite well in regards to being content but actually reading this devotional today has had me pondering this topic more deeply and I’m now left with some questions to answer.
- If I never lost any weight again and I always stayed this fat would I be content?
- If ill-health meant I lost my mobility, hearing or such, would I be content?
- If this was as good as my marriage would ever be, would I be content?
- If I never met that close girl friend that I long for, one I can really talk to and trust, would I be content?
- If my kids retained all their childish annoyances forever, would I be content?
- If we were never to own our own home or car again, would I be content?
- If I remained in voluntary work for the rest of my life, would I be content?
- If there was no money at all in the bank would I be content?
I’m sure there are loads more but these are the first questions that come to mind for me. Your set of questions could be quite different, as it will depend on where your priorities lie.
When everything is going well and there is hope for change in the future then it is easy to say that right here, right now I am content but if nothing changed again ever, would it still be the same?
Something for us to ponder on and pray about I feel.
Have a blessed week, Mich x
(This post first appeared on my (now-retired) faith blog in May 2016)
