SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

Boy the weeks sure do fly by. Here it is another beautiful weekend. Spring is in the air and I am rejoicing.

I had so many nice comments on previous posts I did from the book Women at the Well by Betty Robison that I decided I would share another with you today. This book contains 32 devotions by different women. The one I'm sharing today is by Elizabeth Cody Newenhuyse (I have no idea how her last name is pronounced, but it doesn't really matter. What she shared is so good.)

Cultivating Contentment

There's a lot in my life I wish I could change. I'm not miserable--but I struggle with being satisfied.

One scripture verse that makes me squirm is the apostle Paul's reminder to Timothy: "If we have enough food and clothing let us be content" (I Timothy 6:8). I have food but too often it's macaroni and cheese. I have clothing, but looking through the L.L.Bean catalog brings out my most materialistic urges. I have furniture, but it resembles estate-sale treasures more than it does Crate & Barrel chic. Often I'd like more--and better. And that's just the beginning of my discontentment.

 I've met other women who struggle with the same conflict. My neighbor Jackie, the mother of teens, tells me her level of contentment fluctuates all the time. "It depends on our finances, the state of the house, my husband's and kids' moods and whether or not I have PMS," she says.

Discontent can take a variety of forms. One is Jackie's vague sense of disequilibrium--sometimes she likes her life, and sometimes she doesn't. Another form is a more profound restlessness, like that of a single-parent friend who'd love to pull up stakes and move to Florida after her youngest is through school.  But a third, more destructive discontent is that "never enough" spiral many of us get caught in--always wanting a bigger house, more money, a more prestigious job.

The problem is, many of us define contentment as that ideal state of contant happiness where every problem is solved and every goal is met. But what happens when you achieve a goal? It's like yanking dandelions--you pull one and another pops up in its place. 

Ten years ago, I had a certain sum in mind as my ideal annual income.  I thought, If only I could earn that, my financial woes would be over. Well, guess what happened when I reached that magical number. It no longer seemed ideal, thanks to inflation. In fact, it seemed pitifully inadequate. What I had thought would give me contentment didn't satisfy me any longer.

We're fooling ourselves if we think we'll ever solve all our problems this side of eternity. New dreams will always replace the old. Ultimately there is no true contentment apart from knowing, loving and desiring to follow Christ.

If we're honest, most of us can't say we're content in every situation as the apostle Paul learned to be (Philippians 4:12-13). But it is a model to aspire to.

We may never achieve absolute contentment. But as we seek God's peace and ask his help in setting our minds on "things above"--no matter what the world may throw at us--we may be able to say, echoing the apostle Paul, "I am learning to be content in every circumstance." Such thoughts will help you get over "never enough" and be satisfied with "what is."

Come to think of it, that would make a great inscription for a plaque. I could hang it in my kitchen and meditate on it as I start boiling the macaroni for dinner. 

I think we can all learn something from these words written by Elizabeth and I think we need to be reminded from time to time.

Have a wonderful weekend, and be sure to check out the Spiritual Sundays blog. We are so pleased that more and more people are joining us in sharing there. New people are always welcome. You can click HERE to go to that blog and you will find information on how to share when you get there.