The word contentment describes a feeling of satisfaction. It means we are happy enough with what we have or with what we are doing. Contentment implies that we don’t desire something more or crave something different. First Timothy 6:6-8 says, “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.”
Contentment is a good thing—a godly thing. But at times, our contentment can lull us into a different experience: complacency. Complacency is a state of self-satisfaction or even smugness. It takes our eyes off the Lord and His plans and fixes them on ourselves and our comfort zone. It can take us away from the source of our blessing. We can fall so in love with our surroundings that we lose sight of our call.
Contentment is trusting that God has His hand on you and has placed you where you are for a reason. It may not be easy or desirable, but contentment says, “While I am here, I will praise and honor the Lord and believe that He will meet my needs.” Choosing to not be content in your current season can cause frustration, complaining and an ungrateful heart. So, guard against complacency today, resting in the assurance and the peace that God always provides exactly what you need.
An excerpt from the new Seasons of a Woman’s Life Bible study.
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Why We Do What We Do
"My name is Tatiana, and I am 31 years old with three kids. Lately, I was just kind of doing my own thing day to day. I haven't really been on fire for the Lord.
For the past month or so, I have been listening to Christian radio a lot more often than I normally do. I just took my 13-year-old to Ontario, California so that we could go visit my sister, and on my way back, I was listening to your sermon called ‘Grace.’
I was on fire! I even welled up with tears. What really got to me was when you were talking about grace saying that it is the thing that is in us which allows us to say yes to the things that are trying to get us to say no and say no to the things that are trying to get us to say yes.
An hour prior to hearing this sermon, I was just talking to my friend about these things, and I couldn't believe that you were on the radio speaking of what was going through my mind. God knew that I needed to hear this. He spoke through you right to me, and I wanted you to know. I don't ever reach out like this, but I just had to let you know I could not have been more thankful!
Keep doing what you're doing!
It is something that you do all the time, but I thought I would show my gratitude because I was so thankful to hear it."
—Tatiana
