CONTENTMENT’S SECRET

Do you ever feel like some days the littlest disappointment lands on top of current hardships and then stirs up all sorts of restless feelings pushing your soul toward discontentment like a raging river?

As I sat in my rocking chair looking out at our dried-up tree, withered bushes and brown grass, it stirred a longing in me to see buds blooming and grass turning green... hope for less of the harsh, cruel things in this life. Yet, in that moment, I realized the painful things have purpose too.

I pondered, what does it take for a tree to survive winter? I googled this question and was amazed by what I learned.

It takes adaptability.

I thought, how fitting in this current season of life.

I learned that the tree’s adaptability is directly correlated to repeated challenges to its integrity in order to stimulate small sometimes useful changes in its make-up or core (genome). These small changes help counter threats like frost, dehydration, physical damage from storms, etc. Isn’t it the same with our souls?

One of the most noticeable adaptations is the dropping of leaves in the fall. Leaves add mass and wind resistance that weigh a tree down; therefore, they’re a liability in a snow storm.

I wondered what leaves in my life are adding resistance and have become a liability to my growth?

I pictured myself as a branch, plummeted by hail, threatening to break me off from the tree. I saw irritability in me toward the ones I love, anger at blocked goals, a wicked drive to do something to fix it all, fear of sickness, depression from the lack of human contact, insecurities and anxiety about our future, sorrow over the loss of what life once was, disgruntled by the constant changes, discouraged by the flood of negativity in this world, and sucked under by the weight of stress and fatigue from long days.

Like the tree adapting to the changing seasons, these emotions were simply whispering, “There’s an adjustment that needs to be made inside of you… leaves need to be shed in order to lift the weight off your branches and keep you connected to the tree.”

Then I read about another adaptation—the tree’s bark. The bark is designed to protect the tree from freezing and cracking. It acts as an insulation to the temperature adjustments and keeps the tree from cracking. I’m feeling like I could use some protection from freezing and cracking right about now!

The lord brought Philippians 4:12-13 to mind, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

I dug a little deeper…

1. Contentment is the state of being satisfied with one’s situation independent of external circumstances. Lord knows we could all use a little contentment these days! To be satisfied with where we are, who we are, who we're with, what’s happening in our lives and what we have.

2. The secret of contentment is in relinquishing or limiting ourselves in requirements, desires or what we’re able to do in the presence of difficult circumstances. Hard, but necessary for our growth.

"We gain contentment when we’re willing to receive what God’s given (what we have right now), to lack what He’s withholding (being willing to not have the thing I’m craving) and to relinquish what He’s taken (to let go of what I’ve lost in order to make room for something new)"

~adapted from an original quote by Jerry Bridges

When we settle into this spiritual practice, the struggle of malcontent actually becomes the tool that stimulates our hearts to making small, useful, internal changes freeing us to adapt to our outward circumstances with a renewed sense of gratitude, joy and contentment.

What are some things you’ve lost this year that you'd like to let go of?

What yearnings do you want to create space in your soul for Him to work contentment in?

Where do you long to see your heart spring forth with compassion toward the needs of others around you?

Where are you willing to open yourself to receive what God has for you in the moment while releasing your cravings to Him?

Where are you wanting peace to replace frustration and resentment in your soul?

What brings an abiding strength of satisfaction to who you are, who you're with, what you have and where you are today?

What are you wanting for your future and how are you bringing God into those desires?

Are you willing to relinquish what you don’t have to a trusting God who sympathizes with all you’ve lost?

I pray we experience the fruit of contentment’s secret in each of our lives.