We live in a day where being confident or being secure seems to get farther and farther away from us. Instead we start to question anything and everything and walk around feeling insecure all the time. This happens to you, me, and really all of us if we are honest with ourselves. It even happens with followers of Jesus too.
I think the reason we start to doubt and start to feel more insecure with every day that passes is because of what we are putting our confidence or security in…typically ourselves. When we make things about ourselves (our feelings, our decisions, our path, our joy, our preferences), we set ourselves up for failure, every time. So when we fail and let ourselves down, we start to doubt. We begin to get insecure and forget who we really are. Then it just snowballs from there.
As followers of Jesus, we need the Holy Spirit to remind us (John 14:26) daily about who we really are, and who Jesus really is.
When We Are Content, We Proclaim Jesus Is Our Savior
“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.” – 2 Corinthians 12:10
When we are reminded of what Jesus has done for us, we remember we are sinful and forgiveness is found through Christ for all eternity for past, present, and future sins. Since He first loved us (1 John 4:19), that means everything has already been done for us…so when we are weak, Jesus is strong. When we are insecure, Jesus is our security. When we doubt, Jesus is our truth.
In a day where everything is getting questioned, someone who can walk in confidence and contentment stands out. People are longing to find satisfaction in something and would love to not have to walk around feeling insecure. They’ll find it in something or someone anyway so our contentment in God is so important to show them where it can truly be found. Most people don’t believe you can truly be content in this life, but when you live under the banner of what Jesus has already done, contentment can be found and it’s a great gain (1 Timothy 6:6).
When We Aren’t Content, We Proclaim A Different Savior
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” – Philippians 4:11
Don’t be discouraged if you struggle with contentment…I do that myself every day it seems. It’s a learning process and as we continue being disciples and chances are, we’ll be growing until either we die or Jesus returns. However, we can reflect on our lives and see if we are growing in our contentment with Jesus or if we are getting farther and farther away from it.
When we don’t find contentment in Christ, we find it in ourselves.
When we aren’t living for Jesus, we are living for ourselves and sometimes that’s hard to notice.
- When is the last time you read the Bible?
- What about the last time you prayed?
- How easy do you get frustrated at things or people?
- Does anxiety seem to keep appearing in your life?
Let’s remember that Jesus paid the price for everything and He has freed us. We find ultimate satisfaction and freedom in Him because our contentment isn’t based on ourselves. Praise God for that!
Take time today to praise Jesus for what He has done. If you need to repent of something, confess your sins to God and repent. The sooner we remind ourselves of the Gospel and live for Jesus…the sooner we’ll find contentment.
I really struggled with contentment. I think it comes from putting hope in created things instead of the one who created them. Thanks for the post Mike.
Anytime Shawn! Thanks for the encouragement and I do the same as well. I tend to either worship things or just myself when it comes to the things I want to do or what “I think” is best vs being content with the plan God already has for all of us.