Spirit of Contentment

Just recently I found myself in a season of feeling a bit frustrated with the seemingly mundane routines of life. I normally thrive on routine, as it is comforting and predictable. But lately I have been waking up each new day feeling this mild undercurrent of anxiousness, stress and even irritability. Before my feet even hit the floor in the morning I would see my to-do list highlighted in my mind’s eye and quietly sigh at the tasks that need to be checked off. It was discouraging to feel this way, not to mention unusual.

In situations like this, I have learned to go to the Lord for answers. Who better to give me insight on my heart and soul than my Creator Himself? So I began praying about these feeling and asking the Lord what it was that was going on in my spirit.

While I processed through this, I recognized that I had felt pulled in many directions. I felt depleted and honestly felt as if there was not a lot of significance in my life (which I knew was not the truth, but it felt that way). So again, I took that realization to the Lord in prayer. I knew He had the answers that I needed to break the lie of insignificance I was wrestling with.

I have never been one to crave the spotlight or desire notoriety. I don’t need accolades and have never strived for a specific title or career. I have always been happy with a quiet and simple life. However, I think feeling a sense of significance is something that we all desire. We all want to know that our life matters and that what we are doing on a day-to-day basis is important. We all want to make a difference in this world.

How can doing laundry, cleaning the kitchen, running errands and feeding the animals be significant? How can making dinner, mowing the lawn and baking cookies make a difference? 

The truth is, it may not always feel like it…but those things are significant. They do make a difference. God sees. God hears. And when we do these things for His glory they become so very significant.

Feeling insignificant is a lie of the enemy. When we know our Identity in Christ we do not need to struggle with feeling insignificant. We can rest assured that we are making a difference right where God has planted us. Doing mundane tasks, caring for those He has placed beside us and shining His light in our small (or big) corner of the world does make a significant difference.

The insignificance I wrestled with opened the door for discontentment to come into my life. Feeling like I was stuck in a routine of consistently looping through the same exact day, over and over again, and craving my dreams and desires more than I craved God’s will, brought in discontentment. It made me feel dissatisfied with where God placed me in this season.

Several years ago, the Lord dealt with me on discontentment as well. At that time, my husband and I had just bought our house and we had spent some time decorating. It seemed like all of our ducks were in a perfect row. I felt it was the obvious time for God to come through on His promises, as if on cue. I started to feel discontent with God‘s timing as we waited…and waited…and waited some more for those things He had spoken to us to come to fruition. That time, discontentment came into my heart through my struggle with surrendering my plans and God’s promises to the timing of the Lord. Once He revealed the spirit of discontentment, I repented and learned, one moment at a time, to be content in trusting Him and His perfect timing.

In this current situation I found myself in (and as I prayed through all I was feeling this time around), the Lord gently brought to mind that I had in fact, inadvertently and unknowingly, been allowing a spirit of discontentment to rule in my heart yet again. When I prayed and asked Him to show me what it was, He pointed it out. I’m so grateful.

He revealed to me that when I allowed thoughts of insignificance within my mind, it made me discontent with the life I was living. Life, and the season God has placed us each in, should always be seen as a true gift, an honor and a privilege. Immediately, I repented (again) and felt a huge release of the pressure I had been feeling these past few weeks. I also felt a rush of peace come over my mind and soul. There is no peace like the peace of Jesus!

The Lord’s desire is for us all to live in a spirit of contentment. Contentment means being settled in peace, trusting that the Lord is making a way and having faith that He is for you.

con·tent·ment

noun

1. a state of happiness and satisfaction.

Living within a spirit of contentment means allowing joy to be felt in each situation by remembering Who holds tomorrow. It’s surrendering our timing, our will and our needs to Jesus and resting in His very capable hands.

Contentment breeds a joy-filled life. Being content, in and of itself, makes life so significant. It brings significance to the mundane. Contentment is choosing to be satisfied by admitting we do not know it all – but God does!

As the Lord revealed this to me – that I needed to remove the spirit of discontentment – I also heard Him speak His gracious truth over me that my life did have significance and that in all our lives, our greatest ministry is the small circle where we live. It matters so very much!

Our circle starts at home, with those who are closest to us. Our life is significant and it first and foremost effects the lives of our spouse. Then it effects our immediate family, then our circle of friends, and then the world. God does not create anything without a significant purpose. It is so important to remember that truth.

The people closest to us are our biggest ministry. They are the ones who see it all. They see our reaction to an unexpected mishap or response to a stubbed toe. They are there for the nitty-gritty of life and witness what flows from our heart when no one else is around. We greatly influence those around us in a negative or positive way. And let’s be honest, that is very significant.

The things we do in the monotony of our daily routines – the things that seem to go unnoticed – do truly speak so loudly with significance. They show love, care, support and encouragement. And when done for His glory, even cleaning the bathroom has significance! When we honor God with doing the tasks before us with the right attitude, it produces a content heart. A heart at peace. 

God wants us to have dreams and desires, to have goals and persevere for the prize. However, when we focus upon those things instead of on Him, it enables discontentment. When our pursuit of “things,” like more money, a career, a bigger and better car or home become our goal, instead of the pursuit of righteousness, discontentment will reign in our heart. Our pursuit should always be of Him first.

He provides for all our needs. He places dreams in our heart. He gives and keeps promises and He bestows significance! So look to Him.

Can we be content with what we have? Can we be content without that newest, nicest item? Can we be content in the routines and monotony of life?

Yes!

I am far from perfect, friends. My reactions and responses are not always what they should be. I think we all wish we could say we have passed those tests in life with flying colors. The ones where the bottom of the grocery bag drops out and eggs spill everywhere, and we stay calm and content. Or when we get cut off in traffic and we think, “God bless you,” instead of…well, thinking something else! How about when that package we needed for today isn’t arriving until next week and we respond with grace instead of visible frustration that spills over into the rest of the day?

Are you able to be content in life when things don’t go your way? When that promotion never comes though? When that house with your dream kitchen is still beyond your reach? When you feel insignificant? Or when God asks you to wait?

Yes!

Life is too short to spend in discontentment. It goes by way too fast. We will never have today again.

Find your peace and contentment in the season the Lord has you in right now. Don’t let discontentment rob you of the joy of today. We will never get today back. There is so much to experience in each new day. If we move forward counting our blessings and focusing on being content we will enjoy the journey much more deeply!

Just this morning as I was at the kitchen sink, I accidentally pushed the spray nozzle feature and water shot all over my kitchen floor. I let out a squeal of surprise and then laughed with a big grin. As I got down on my hands and knees to wipe up the water from my kitchen floor I smiled to myself at my reaction. Just a few days ago my reaction would have been one of frustration. I was pleased with my new contentment and place of peace.

Right after that, my washer and dryer began beeping and playing their song of completion, beckoning me to come over and switch the loads and fold the clean clothes. Instead of a stressed sigh of feeling the pressure mounting I felt peace. There have been a few other indicators these past few days proving to me that I am now choosing to live in a spirit of contentment and I am please to see the evidence that God is working in my heart. These daily tasks will be a part of my life until I get to heaven. So I am thankful that The Lord humbled me and corrected me – guiding me to choose His contentment. He always does it for my benefit.

Trust in Jesus. Surrender your will to His. Be satisfied that He is in control and you do not have to be. Keep the faith that He has a good plan for you! Honor Him with resting in contentment.

You will not regret it. 

Be blessed, friends! 

~Stephanie

*All of the picture-scriptures in this blog are photos I took on a recent trip to Monterey, California. Monterey is one of the favorite vacation spots my husband and I like to visit. There is no shortage of contentment on the sandy shores of the Pacific Ocean. Contentment galore!