Contentment - Pt 1

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:10-13 ESV).

Yesterday I wrote a bit about the craftsmanship of God in his design and creation, especially as it relates specifically to us as individuals. As I let that thought meander a bit more in my mind I came to the conclusion that perhaps a few short follow-up devotionals concerning what that means practically might be helpful. Our reading is taken from the Apostle Paul as he writes a gracious letter expressing his love and gratitude for the Philippian Church as they had done so much to validate his ministry and support him in his last imprisonment. In these last few verses he shares an incredible principle dealing with what is so often missing in our lives: Contentment. If we are insightful and honest with ourselves we all wrestle with a very specific and debilitating fear. It’s not an externally prompted fear like being afraid of spiders, snakes, or heights. It’s not a wearisome fear like worry that erodes our spirit from uncontrollable circumstances. The fear I see is a fear that flows out from our inner thoughts and beliefs. It slowly rises over our core identity drowning it in a feeling of dread and anxiety. This fear can be so terrifying to us that we often bury it deeply within our psyche. It is the fear of rejection. It will destroy your contentment. This kind of fear whispers to us that we somehow won’t be enough. It’s the sinking feeling that we are an imposter and we don’t belong. It’s the mind numbing worry that if people really knew what you think or how you are, you would be rejected by them. This fear keeps us from living life to the fullest because we’re afraid to truly live at all. We shrink back and hold back instead of growing and letting go. We believe that the gifts we have, our dreams and strengths, are not important and not valuable. We are constantly making the exhausting choice to be a false impression in order to be accepted by others rather than becoming our authentic selves, who God created us to be. When we struggle with self-doubt and let insecurity determine our actions and beliefs, we’re stealing away who God created us to be. We’re holding back the real person the world needs us to be. Tomorrow, I’ll have a few very practical things we can do to overturn the convincing arguments of the whispers in our mind. Today, be intention about this declaration: I can do all things through him (v. 13).