In a land of abundance – the abundance of goods, opportunities, choices, beauty, and grandeur, why does a feeling of discontent continue to take away the joy, making me restless, clouding my vision, and warping my interactions? Why are we always looking for something else? Why are we seeking, seeking something better rather than enjoying what is ours? Let’s talk about how to be content and happy with your life.
What Makes People So Unhappy and Discontent?
Take a poll of the people you live with, work with, or who live on your street. Ask them if they are “content with their life.” They would likely respond in many and varied ways. Do you mean content with my income? Content with my home, my job, my wife? Content with the government, the health care system, the local schools? Content with the affordability of travel, entertainment, college? Are they content with the local churches and synagogues and mosques? Are they satisfied with their neighbors? Or is there a cloud of discontent being internalized?
Why Can’t I Be Happy with What I Have?
But more importantly, are they content within themselves? Content with their reputation in the community? Or, more thoughtfully, are they content with who they are, how they are developing, and are they content with their future – in retirement, with family, or at death? Are we content with who we are? Or whose we are? Read more about how to be content and happy with your life.
Is it Possible to Be Content?
Are you brave enough to sit down, meditate, and honestly ask yourself these questions?
How much ownership do we have of expendable items, things that cause us to become hoarders, or to work excessively to acquire more goods, more luxurious cars, larger homes, more shoes?
Are we looking for contentment, or are we seeking to impress with ostentatious clothing, extravagant jewelry, pricey toys? Rather than contentment, these things often leave angst and frustration. We find that the work hours demanded for our lifestyle occlude any semblance of hours of enjoyment. It is so important to seek to understand ourselves when searching how to be content and happy with your life.
To thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man
William Shakespeare.
The Apostle Paul said:
for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstance. 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. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.
Phil 4:11.
How to Find Contentment
Life is hard: Life is good. This statement is not mutually exclusive. No one sails through life without bumps and bobbles from time to time. We struggle with reality that messes with our dreams. Hard times come and go. We may lose a job, a lover, a loved one. But life is good. You can learn how to be content and happy with your life. The human spirit recharges from a fall and rejoices in opportunities, in the love of family and friends, in the soul recognition that life is more than eating and sleeping. Yes, we are indeed here for a purpose and God is always loving us and trying to get our attention. Life is hard! Life is good!
And to understand ourselves, we must accept the role that God plays in it all. God promises to meet all our needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus.
We invite you to find out more about Jesus by watching the GREAT NEWS FOR YOU VIDEO on this page.
What Does Contentment Mean?
A growing trust in the promises God gives us is to learn contentment. Content is a Greek word; it is a purposeful word. “I have the resources within me to persevere, no matter what” doesn’t just mean to “feel good.” It is deeper and stronger than that. It is putting our trust for now and all eternity in the promises of God and finding peace here on earth, strength for each trial, joy in each blessing – all provided by the Grace of God. All meant for our betterment, our enrichment, and, ultimately, our contentment.
In the process, we learn to differentiate our wants from our needs.
I recall in my young adulthood, suddenly, beginning to think of the “I needa’s “– rather than the” I wanta’s” that had ruled my thinking and planning. God was beginning to teach me to recognize a bit of contentment. With contentment, we are not only able to love ourselves better, but to love others. Our attitudes and appetites can change from wanting everything in sight to that of accepting his provision and the power to live for him. That is the growth pattern on our way to finding contentment. You can learn how to be content with your life.
How Can I Be Content?
We cannot do this on our own. We are born selfish. Among the first words from a toddler’s mouth is often “Mine!” Do we stay in that stage of development all our lives, or do we submit to the abundant life Jesus promises us? The life of forgiveness, of joy, and of hope.
Don’t miss out on the trip of development, the way to contentment. You will miss some of the most edifying moments of your life. It is here we learn unity, humility, joy, and peace. We will be motivated to live for others. We can live confidently for him, because we have “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” with us.
Contentment Provided Through Grace:
And it’s all because of Grace – “by grace are you saved” – provided by our Living Lord.
But we are also:
- Sustained by grace
- Governed by grace
- Guided by grace
- Kept by grace
- Strengthened by grace
- Sanctified by grace
- Enabled by grace.
We are constantly dependent on the forgiveness, the comfort, the peace, joy, boldness, and instruction that comes through God’s grace.
Why do we try to make life more difficult by always insisting on doing it “my way”, when we are promised His help and the satisfaction and contentment that comes in trusting in his promises – because God’s promises are sure and dependable.
Forgiveness Brings Contentment
And did I mention forgiveness? Being forgiven adds a ton of contentment to my day. And this grace enables us to forgive others. Forgiving others is sometimes very difficult. Someone phrased it in these words “Forgiveness is surrendering my right to hurt you for hurting me.” Just as our Lord forgives us.
Is Pride Keeping You from Contentment?
As a college student, I excelled in class and labs. I had many friends, great energy. I tacked my faith on because it was the acceptable thing to do. However, in my junior year, I was pierced to the core through God’s grace and saw myself as I was – a proud person – proud of self, depending on self, glorifying self – and by grace I saw that and submitted to the redeeming power of Christ. I remained an excellent student, but I began to see life as such a gift. I kept my friends and yet became so much more approachable and helpful. I sought to give God the glory for all with which he was blessing me.
You can do the same. It makes all the difference. Now and in Eternity.
Are you tired? Overburdened? Too much responsibility? Too many debts? Take a day to get to know yourself and open your heart and mind to a day of quiet and introspection. Allow the word of God to lead you to accept his grace of forgiveness and to give you purpose – and, oh! – to take the load from you and give you direction, and peace and purpose. Accept the contentment that comes with offloading our burdens. Let your heart burst with thankfulness and love and welcome the contentment of having God in control of your life.
Surrender and Receive Contentment
Trust in God’s Power – The God of Provision – God of Presence
A happy saint is one who is at the same time aware of the severity of sin and the immensity of grace. Sin is not diminished, nor is God’s ability to forgive it. The saint dwells in grace, not guilt. This is the tranquil soul.
Max Lucado
Click on the video below and listen to the simple way God has provided for us to experience fellowship, forgiveness, and contentment. We hope you found some help on how to be content and happy with your life.
