Everyone who comes into this world is “born for adversity.” God’s children are born for contentment.
Years ago, when our oldest granddaughter started elementary school, I asked her why children were going to school every day. Her reply was, “So that we can get a job, make money, and buy what we want.” She was learning well at an early age what the world teaches about contentment. Now, at the age of twenty-four she is married, has a two-year old daughter and a job. And through adversity, she is learning to be content with what she has.
In this world of oppression, we are taught that we have the power to accomplish whatever makes us happy. This is not the contentment for which God’s people are born. Let’s leave behind the fallacy that we are responsible for our own contentment.
True contentment ~ divine contentment ~ comes to us by the supernatural power of God, our heavenly Father. He desired us and sired us for His own pleasure and contentment.
Just as we learn from infancy how to survive physically, we must learn, at His feet, how to be content in this world of oppression.
Desire to Desire What God Desires
We are reminded of the apostle Paul’s words, “ I have learned…..to be content.” (Philippians 4:11) What God gives us in our new birth is a new heart, and a new spirit with a desire for that which is eternal.
Learning about true contentment is not easy. It is as foreign to humanity as anything we can study or desire. It is beyond imagination, so supernatural that we cannot think about it without being overwhelmed. We are reminded of Jesus’ promise, “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”(John 4:14)
This eternal life becomes a fountain (Psalm 36:9), then a stream (Isaiah 35:6), then breaks forth into rivers of living water (John 7:37-39). The source is God, Himself, through Christ, His Son, and the power of the Holy Spirit working in the heart to produce His own life. This is what He meant when He said, “The kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21
The new birth is the spring. Growing by the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ brings the blessings of His presence and power, blessings we cannot fathom, or control, at times carrying us away with the flow.
Oppression ~~~~ Adversity ~~~~Contentment
Divine contentment is the opposite end of the spectrum from oppression, as far as heaven is from the earth. Between oppression and divine contentment, the reality of adversity remains part of every person’s life. Divine contentment is God’s blessing and gift of grace, that His children may live content in Christ, in the middle of adversity. It is more than just having what we think we need, but receiving what He has so graciously prepared for us ~ more than we could ask or think.
(1 Corinthians 2:9; Ephesians 3:20)
As we continue to proclaim the legacy of God’s kingdom we will share what He is teaching us of this supernatural, phenomenal gift of His contentment.
Dear Father in heaven, many ask why you allow oppression and adversity. Keep us close to you as we are learning your thoughts and your ways concerning our place in your kingdom here on earth. We praise you for the contentment that is ours in Christ, for the legacy that is ours as joint-heirs with Christ now and for eternity. Show us your ways O Lord; teach us your paths; lead us in your truth and teach us. For Thou art the God of our salvation. On Thee do we wait all the day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Image
God's Grace ~ God's Glory! 
The Contentment is a vast topic of discuss..for me Contentment was peace whiler minds concentrate on Jesus. It has been my experience, both at times of adversity and prosperity, focusing on other worldly things brings discontent in your lives..yet each time i put my focus on Jesus,,there was no need..really Jesus is the answer to Contentment that brings peace.
As i read your writing,,,you mentioned about Paul’s way of maintaining contentment, a revelation struck me about David who faced greater adversity than Paul all the days of his life since the day he was anointed to the day he ceased. Yet He said, “The LORD is my shepherd i Shall not want.” For David GOD was everything, a source greater than need. We tend to focus on need but David is saying focus on GOD who is the source for everything. David had everything after he became King,,but what troubled him was the need for GOD. He was focused on fulfilling need for GOD. Do you remember that when David had a very good house to live in..he noticed GOD was living outside in the tent. David was emotional and thought of building house and temple for GOD and dedicated all his wealth to GOD’s temple building project. It’s when we focus on what GOD wants and needs that provides us contentment. If we have the same heart as David who is so stuck to concern about GOD’s need, will and want..we will always be content. Our need fulfillment can’t content us, But GOD and HIS will should be our need. Jesus said” to do will of my father is my bread ” to his disciples. If we only learn to make will and word of GOD our bread…we will have everlasting contentment.
I agree with you, contentment development begins when we start recognizing GOD is our need during adversity. Adversity in fact propels us to stand still in GOD. It;s during Adversity that we are very thirsty spiritually and if we seek GOD he is available for us like a Living Water providing contentment and inner peace. Even if the situation is worst, this contentment developed by quenching the spiritual thirst with GOD’s word, presence and fellowship is what contentment is all about. GOD has HIS way of teaching, but adversity, desertification, thirst is one of the ways GOD help us to realize the continuous wanting of GOD is the contentment and peace. We then know we already have everything with us when GOD is with us..For David GOD was need not only in earth but also in heaven. Even if David had to go to heaven, he is ready to say” I don’t want heavenly rewards, i don’t want better position, title..I just want to be gatekeeper at YOUR HOUSE.. LORD you are my reward I need you. you are my need, you are my thirst and i hunger for you.” Pslam 73:25 says Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. David was clear, that he wanted only GOD nothing more. So he was a content person for sure…It was same with John the Baptist…so it’s no doubt that Jesus was very content person since he knew “Not my will but your will and need be done” and he taught us to pray like this as well so that we would learn what true contentment is. “Not my will but your will be done, our Father in Heaven Hallowed be thy name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thomas, thank you for your comment. We will be spending this year learning the meaning of this “vast topic” of divine contentment. This post was to emphasize first that divine contentment begins with God, our Father, and is His supernatural work is His children. The heavenly blessing of contentment was made possible through his Son, Jesus Christ, and is worked in and through us by His Holy Spirit. We will center all our posts on these and other Biblical references. Thank you for reading and adding to our discussion. Have a blessed day. ~ Fran
LikeLike
Sharing God’s teaching! Thank you for sharing His Word with your walk of faith
LikeLike
Wow your oldest granddaughter is 24 years old?? And you also have great-grandkids? Praise the Lord!
LikeLike
Generation after generation, the Lord works for His own pleasure, for His glory and our joy.:) How wise and wonderful are our heavenly Father’s plans for us as His children.
Yes, Jim, we have both great grandchildren and great-grandchildren going through the same trials as we have experienced. They know His witness through us and are claiming the same promises of mercy and grace.
LikeLike
I can relate very well with what Paul was saying.
Now my greatest contentment is spending time in Gods Cathedral ( nature) and enjoying being in his beautiful presence.
LikeLike
Praise the Lord. You are very blessed!
LikeLike
Solid. Well grounded in the Word. Logical exposition. Thank you for it.
LikeLike
Thank you for your comment. There is more to come. The Lord will be with us this year, continuing to show us His way to divine contentment in Christ.
Blessings to you in this new year ~ Fran
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome
LikeLike
Pingback: The Voice of Contentment – God's Grace ~ God's Glory!