contentment.

July 13, 2021 by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 2 Comments

... for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.

Contentment isn’t happiness. Happiness comes and goes depending on the circumstances.

Contentment is learned through accepting circumstances we cannot change, producing a steady, peaceful mind and heart.

God knows we are human and understands how we feel.

But, He gave us a way to not let our feelings (happiness or the lack thereof) dictate everything we think or do.

Because Jesus loves, it doesn’t mean He loves everything we think or do. There is a trend happening these days that says because Jesus is so loving, He understands and accepts xyz.

He understands. It doesn’t mean he accepts.

Jesus said, “Go and sin no more” for a reason.

It goes like this: “Trust Me. Do “these things” and it will hurt you. Do these things and you will be able to not only endure in a broken, suffering, world, but I will give you contentment, peace, and joy in the midst of it.

Contentment is just one of those promises given to us when we do it God’s way. His presence increases in our life, and we grow stronger in our spirit instead of in ourselves.

The Apostle Paul said this to the Galatians:

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

To crucify your passions and sinful desires means to reject them; to not let them determine, dictate, or decide; to reject anything that interferes with what God says. It is a choice, a decision; not a feeling.

We can be a Christian, love God, go to church, and live out our lives being weak in our spirit because time after time we have carved out our own path in life in our own way. When things go wrong, when our circumstances are not ideal, it is very telling how much of us is in our lives and how much of God.

If God tells us we can have contentment no matter our circumstances, we can.

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

when we don’t want to.

June 8, 2016June 8, 2016 by Kathleen Moulton

Since losing my oldest son 10 1/2 years ago, I have been very aware of a part of me that “holds back”.

It’s this small part deep inside. It doesn’t hurt. It just exists.

This morning, I began getting back into my walking routine. Wildflowers swayed in the meadows along the road. So calming to the soul!

I walked by several clumps of daisies. Hmm. I remember long ago, picking them and putting them in a vase on the table. But today, that small part of me kept holding me back.

Why bother.

But then I made a decision to pick them, even when I didn’t want to.

morning 3

©kathymoulton

I can’t tell you that suddenly the heavens opened up and I felt incredibly wonderful.

Instead, I felt contentment.

Contentment is underrated. We think we’re always supposed to be happy .. on top of our game .. riding a wave of accomplishment.

And if we aren’t, something is wrong.

Not true!

Do something you don’t feel like doing today.

contentment.

December 14, 2015December 14, 2015 by Kathleen Moulton

Nothing will completely remove the pain we feel through the losses and struggles in our life.

But there is a way to live through it.

This morning, I was talking to my 14 year old about contentment since he asked about it concerning his literature assignment.

I said, imagine if you are swimming across a lake and you begin to struggle. You are getting tired and eventually are gasping for air. Then you feel an arm reach around you, helping to bring you safely to shore.

Would you push away this help?

Would you fight it and say you can do it alone?

Would you blame your savior for your inability to swim the lake?

Would you even be angry at the lake?

We live in a world of very wonderful moments, full of beauty and enjoyment. But it is intermingled with pain and struggles. God doesn’t hide this from us. He clearly tells us in the scripture we will have pain and suffering, but says He is with us always.

God is that hand reaching down to us. Do you fight against Him?

As you learn to trust Him, you learn to be content no matter what your circumstances are, because you have come to know He is with you.

Some people stay angry with their struggles and even turn their anger toward God, saying he should have prevented this or that.

We don’t have all the answers. That is what faith is. It is believing what God says even when we don’t feel like it. Soon we find ourselves becoming stronger and content because we also learn that life is short compared to eternity, where God is waiting for us, ready to wipe away all our tears (and perhaps explain some things!)

It is clear our world is imperfect. We see sickness, loss, physical and mental pain, and death.

It’s not fair.

Yet, it is what it is and how we deal with it will make us either suffer in our own bitterness or we find contentment despite our suffering.

Contentment is like a steady, burning candle. There are no extremes of excessive light, searching your mind for every negative emotion, nor shadowy dimness, pulling you into an abyss of darkness and despair.

Contentment is light that provides you with what you need for today.

If you want it.

4744175365_a7cd02f34c_b (1) — spcbrass via Foter.com / CC BY-SA

contentment.

April 3, 2015April 2, 2015 by Kathleen Moulton ♥ 4 Comments

When we think of contentment, we often associate it with an accomplishment. You worked very hard at something and you were successful.

Or, it’s that warm, calm feeling listening to rhythm of the rain hitting the roof at night.

Moments like these are just that. Moments.

What if I told you it is possible to have contentment everyday?

In the Bible, the Apostle Paul was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and more. Yet, he says this:

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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.

Contentment comes from accepting what you cannot change. But you can only truly accept when you believe God is with you.

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.