Contentment in the Lord

[MollyConnor]

Whether we are married or single, the only way can enjoy the moment is by being content. Jesus is the one who strengthens us in the both depressing and joyful moments. Contentment is not something we are born with. We have to learn it. Just living life is a classroom for learning it. Shattered dreams and unmet expectations are great practice. But we can't do it on our own, we need Jesus.

When times are good, remember that you still need Him. "Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' " Proverbs 30:9a

I was just doing some studying tonight and I thought I would share a synopsis of what I learned.

Also, I have felt recently that God doesn't answer my prayers or that He's not listening. Then yesterday as I was reading the book of Habakkuk I realized something. Habakkuk had been praying for a long time (my Quest Bible says about 12 years) for justice in Judah. He wanted the corruption to end in the Southern Kingdom. During those years he thought that God wasn't listening to him but He was! He was preparing Babylon as an empire ready to take charge of Judah and purify them of their sins. This may seem harsh but that's what was necessary at the time. Habakkuk realized this and in the end knew that God was in control of everything and everyone, even those as ruthless as the Babylonians (which He judged eventually as well).

So when it seems like God is not answering your prayers and you feel like those prayers are lost or weren't heard, remember that in the Bible sometimes things took time. God always listens to us, it's just that He may be working behind the scenes to address the problem. Just like he did with the Babylonian Empire. It took years to build them up and have them ready to clean out Judah. This is similar to what He did with the Northern Kingdom of Israel with the Assyrian Empire.

We have to see that prayers that are taking their time could be a learning tool for contentment as well. Don't fight them, learn from them. Be content because that's the only way we can enjoy life, by finding contentment in the Lord.

Have you found contentment in Him? Do you feel like you have unanswered prayers? Do you think that maybe God is working behind the scenes to answer them?

 

[missy2014]

that was Encouraging Molly.

 

[JeniBean]

Great study you're doing Molly and thanks for sharing the encouraging message!

 

[Abing]

Thanks for sharing this, Molly! I just started practicing this. Even when things don't go as planned, there's always a reason to have joy (if all else fails, hey we're still all going to heaven and that's reason enough!). Love you lots

 

[MollyConnor]

Thanks for sharing this, Molly! I just started practicing this. Even when things don't go as planned, there's always a reason to have joy (if all else fails, hey we're still all going to heaven and that's reason enough!). Love you lots

Thank you ladies! Love you too, Abing!

 

[Siberian_Khatru]

Have you found contentment in Him?

In a sense, but not so much in His creation and not always in His ways. It has been a difficult journey lately.

 

[Willie-T]

In a sense, but not so much in His creation and not always in His ways. It has been a difficult journey lately.

Why, "lately"?

 

[Siberian_Khatru]

Why, "lately"?

To avoid hijacking the OP's thread, let's just say that experiences, dialogues, and even some literature that has graced me has lead me to do a lot of questioning and some doubting.

 

[MollyConnor]

To avoid hijacking the OP's thread, let's just say that experiences, dialogues, and even some literature that has graced me has lead me to do a lot of questioning and some doubting.

SK I think my thread is dead...haha...if you wanna open up you can. But I'm not saying that you should. It's your decision.

I can relate. My first year in college I questioned my faith a bit too. I was confused and I had to do a lot of searching, asking, and studying. It didn't take long for me to come back to God. All this evolution and atheist philosophy stuff really confused me. I wasn't an atheist but I was questioning a lot. I'm grateful that God paved a way for me to come back. I hope you can too, brother!

I wanted to add a lot of it came from teachers telling me God didn't exist and coming from an environment where teachers were to be respected, I started to believe them.

 

[Siberian_Khatru]

Thanks Molly, you're a sweetheart. I still prefer to keep it out of your thread with respect to you and the original intent of you posting.

I will point out that it is less an issue of losing faith in God than it is in Christianity, to put it vaguely.

 

[Abing]

SK I think my thread is dead...haha...if you wanna open up you can. But I'm not saying that you should. It's your decision.

I can relate. My first year in college I questioned my faith a bit too. I was confused and I had to do a lot of searching, asking, and studying. It didn't take long for me to come back to God. All this evolution and atheist philosophy stuff really confused me. I wasn't an atheist but I was questioning a lot. I'm grateful that God paved a way for me to come back. I hope you can too, brother!

I wanted to add a lot of it came from teachers telling me God didn't exist and coming from an environment where teachers were to be respected, I started to believe them.

Thanks for sharing this Molly. I love how this post ends with your signature <3

 

[Abing]

Thanks Molly, you're a sweetheart. I still prefer to keep it out of your thread with respect to you and the original intent of you posting.

I will point out that it is less an issue of losing faith in God than it is in Christianity, to put it vaguely.

This may very well be irrelevant but I'll just throw this out there. I've already lost my faith in mankind (christians included). They all (I, included) desperately need a Saviour. My life has become less complicated after shifting my focus to Jesus, the Man, Himself. Nothing and no one else really matters anyway.

At the end of the day, I may or may have said or done things right. I may or may have offended some and got offended myself. But they will all go away. All of these things shall pass. Just looking forward to a better life in eternity and enjoying the one I have now with people that may very easily just disappear on me. Okay so much for derailing this thread. Ah, driving the point back to Molly's topic, maybe, just maybe, contentment in God is all that matters after all?

 

[Roh_Chris]

Have you found contentment in Him? Do you feel like you have unanswered prayers? Do you think that maybe God is working behind the scenes to answer them?

This is an interesting take on the word "contentment", Molly.

The explanation I usually get from Christians for the same word is quite defeatist, in my opinion. Think about it, being content with what one has is another way of resigning himself/herself and not trying hard to fight the odds. For example, let's say that I have an important test. I can listen to my competitive self, work hard, prepare extremely well and focus on acing the test; or, I can sit back, relax and say "I am content with whatever God gives me." This is the most common explanation for being content, as a Christian.

This is the reason why I find your explanation interesting. Sometimes, I have seen that God works behind the scenes to answer my prayers. Other times, God has given me the strength to work it out myself while He guides my hands. So, I think it boils down to the individual and to the specific circumstances.

 

[Abing]

This is an interesting take on the word "contentment", Molly.

The explanation I usually get from Christians for the same word is quite defeatist, in my opinion. Think about it, being content with what one has is another way of resigning himself/herself and not trying hard to fight the odds. For example, let's say that I have an important test. I can listen to my competitive self, work hard, prepare extremely well and focus on acing the test; or, I can sit back, relax and say "I am content with whatever God gives me." This is the most common explanation for being content, as a Christian.

This is the reason why I find your explanation interesting. Sometimes, I have seen that God works behind the scenes to answer my prayers. Other times, God has given me the strength to work it out myself while He guides my hands. So, I think it boils down to the individual and to the specific circumstances.

I love this subject. It is true, it all comes down to the individual (his personal walk with God, his experiences and upbringing, his circumstances, and on and on). For most Christians, contentment is synonymous to like being passive, that is the "I'm content with whatever God gives me" attitude which can also be said as "I'm content with God so whatever comes, comes". The same thing can be applied to faith and the attitude of being "I believe so I shall receive". In the same way, it applies to grace too "I'm saved by grace so I don't have to change anything about me."

Going back, it's interesting to know that contentment, as well as grace, faith, love and joy and all things, can have different definitions to each individual depending on who they are and their circumstances. Because every individual is different, and every circumstance is different, these things can be understood in many many ways; that is, definitions vary. So it's safe to say that we can't really rely on our own perception of things (which is why we abide in God's Word).

I think it's amazing to know that this is one of the reasons we are called to seek God above all, because then we learn to value what His definitions are (in His Word), and that's gives us a Standard on how to understand and know all things. Having a Standard (Jesus Christ) to follow makes it so we know what is right and wrong. God gave us the freedom to choose, and the freedom to choose what is right (there is non righteous but Him).

In the same sense, if we put our own logic as our basis in perceiving things (or people), our own thinking (which is influenced by our changing circumstances and changing desires), needless to say, will not be reliable. It is through our varying perceptions that strife exists. Yes, I'm being very redundant.

But going back to your example: If I have an important test, my contentment in God applies in that which, I will value God's Word that is "whatever you do work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord" - so in the end, I'd still do the normal things like study, work hard and prepare - but this would be fuelled by my own desire for God which is found in my contentment in Him. At least, that's how the ideal me would do it. Okay, I'm making this more complicated than it should be. Lol. I'm just really thinking out loud right now.

 

[Pemican]

A few verses on contentment:

Psa 37:7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Pro 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness Than great income with injustice.

Pro 17:1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife.

2Co 12:9-10 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Php 4:11-12 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

1Ti 6:6-8 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.

Heb 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,"

 

[shlee23]

Also, I have felt recently that God doesn't answer my prayers or that He's not listening. Then yesterday as I was reading the book of Habakkuk I realized something. Habakkuk had been praying for a long time (my Quest Bible says about 12 years) for justice in Judah. He wanted the corruption to end in the Southern Kingdom. During those years he thought that God wasn't listening to him but He was! He was preparing Babylon as an empire ready to take charge of Judah and purify them of their sins. This may seem harsh but that's what was necessary at the time. Habakkuk realized this and in the end knew that God was in control of everything and everyone, even those as ruthless as the Babylonians (which He judged eventually as well).

So when it seems like God is not answering your prayers and you feel like those prayers are lost or weren't heard, remember that in the Bible sometimes things took time. God always listens to us, it's just that He may be working behind the scenes to address the problem. Just like he did with the Babylonian Empire. It took years to build them up and have them ready to clean out Judah. This is similar to what He did with the Northern Kingdom of Israel with the Assyrian Empire.

We have to see that prayers that are taking their time could be a learning tool for contentment as well. Don't fight them, learn from them. Be content because that's the only way we can enjoy life, by finding contentment in the Lord.

Have you found contentment in Him? Do you feel like you have unanswered prayers? Do you think that maybe God is working behind the scenes to answer them?

This definitely spoke to me. I quite often feel that God doesn't hear me. I have been praying the same prayer for the last 10 years and He has yet to answer it. I will always continue to pray though.

 

[shineyourlight]

Whether we are married or single, the only way can enjoy the moment is by being content. Jesus is the one who strengthens us in the both depressing and joyful moments. Contentment is not something we are born with. We have to learn it. Just living life is a classroom for learning it. Shattered dreams and unmet expectations are great practice. But we can't do it on our own, we need Jesus.

When times are good, remember that you still need Him. "Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' " Proverbs 30:9a

I was just doing some studying tonight and I thought I would share a synopsis of what I learned.

Also, I have felt recently that God doesn't answer my prayers or that He's not listening. Then yesterday as I was reading the book of Habakkuk I realized something. Habakkuk had been praying for a long time (my Quest Bible says about 12 years) for justice in Judah. He wanted the corruption to end in the Southern Kingdom. During those years he thought that God wasn't listening to him but He was! He was preparing Babylon as an empire ready to take charge of Judah and purify them of their sins. This may seem harsh but that's what was necessary at the time. Habakkuk realized this and in the end knew that God was in control of everything and everyone, even those as ruthless as the Babylonians (which He judged eventually as well).

So when it seems like God is not answering your prayers and you feel like those prayers are lost or weren't heard, remember that in the Bible sometimes things took time. God always listens to us, it's just that He may be working behind the scenes to address the problem. Just like he did with the Babylonian Empire. It took years to build them up and have them ready to clean out Judah. This is similar to what He did with the Northern Kingdom of Israel with the Assyrian Empire.

We have to see that prayers that are taking their time could be a learning tool for contentment as well. Don't fight them, learn from them. Be content because that's the only way we can enjoy life, by finding contentment in the Lord.

Have you found contentment in Him? Do you feel like you have unanswered prayers? Do you think that maybe God is working behind the scenes to answer them?

I think it's also important to know that we shouldn't just be content in him because we're single or that we're dating someone, but that we are content in all seasons. In those dry times, in those harvest times, in brokenness, in our wholeness, in our singleness, in our relationships. Our satisfaction comes from Him and from Him alone.

When we seek for satisfaction in other things, we are looking for other things to bring comfort to us, to bring some type of self-gratification. As the majority of you know, I love health, I love fitness. I've lost 80+ pounds However, I know that if something bad happens or something dramatic, my old habits come up really quickly to where I just want to eat. I choose not to have any junk food in my place simply because I'm not going to set myself up for failure (this doesn't mean I don't indulge from time to time with friends and when I go out). But, back in the day, I used to eat to bring comfort to me. I used to go to food because that was one thing that would comfort me.

However, after indulging in food, I was never fully satisfied. I still left being hungry. Why? Because nothing can fully satisfy you except for God. God never will leave you feeling unsatisfied.

 

[Siberian_Khatru]

God never will leave you feeling unsatisfied.

I truly hope that I can echo this with confidence someday. Thanks for the post, and congrats on those 80+ lbs!

 

[MollyConnor]

This is an interesting take on the word "contentment", Molly.

The explanation I usually get from Christians for the same word is quite defeatist, in my opinion. Think about it, being content with what one has is another way of resigning himself/herself and not trying hard to fight the odds. For example, let's say that I have an important test. I can listen to my competitive self, work hard, prepare extremely well and focus on acing the test; or, I can sit back, relax and say "I am content with whatever God gives me." This is the most common explanation for being content, as a Christian.

This is the reason why I find your explanation interesting. Sometimes, I have seen that God works behind the scenes to answer my prayers. Other times, God has given me the strength to work it out myself while He guides my hands. So, I think it boils down to the individual and to the specific circumstances.

Thanks Roh! I hadn't really thought of contentment that way...but I'm glad I gave you a whole new perspective.

I think it's also important to know that we shouldn't just be content in him because we're single or that we're dating someone, but that we are content in all seasons. In those dry times, in those harvest times, in brokenness, in our wholeness, in our singleness, in our relationships. Our satisfaction comes from Him and from Him alone.

When we seek for satisfaction in other things, we are looking for other things to bring comfort to us, to bring some type of self-gratification. As the majority of you know, I love health, I love fitness. I've lost 80+ pounds However, I know that if something bad happens or something dramatic, my old habits come up really quickly to where I just want to eat. I choose not to have any junk food in my place simply because I'm not going to set myself up for failure (this doesn't mean I don't indulge from time to time with friends and when I go out). But, back in the day, I used to eat to bring comfort to me. I used to go to food because that was one thing that would comfort me.

However, after indulging in food, I was never fully satisfied. I still left being hungry. Why? Because nothing can fully satisfy you except for God. God never will leave you feeling unsatisfied.

Yes, that's what I was trying to convey on my message. hehe It's best to lean on Him because he's the only one who could fill us up. When we drink His water, we will no longer be thirsty. John 4:14.

Wow, Katie you lost 80 pounds? That's amazing!

Also, I started the thread with single or not because it's in the singles forum and a lot of people here feel like God is not providing when they're single. But of course, we need Him for everything.

 

[Silverwings]

[video]https://youtu.be/AzWoF5-4afE[/video]