Contentment

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“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” Philippians 4:11-12

We all know that we are to be content in what the Lord provides for us. We can even say that we are content in all circumstances. But, is this really true? In my life, I find that I struggle with contentment. I am on a quest to be content in what the Lord provides. It is not an easy journey.

I must admit that I am blessed with many things in life. I have a loving, supportive family. I have a job I love. I have good friends. I have a beautiful home and do not want for anything necessary for life. I live in a country with freedoms of speech, politics, and religion. I have never had to worry where the next meal is coming from, or if I can afford to go to the doctor. And I know that the majority of people in the world cannot make the same claims. So then, why does it seem that I struggle with contentment?

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I think a root cause is our basic human nature. How many proverbs speak of the better thing just around the corner? Our natural instinct is to want something different, something better, something just out of reach. Unfortunately, in our quest to get the next thing (whether it be a possession, a job, a prestigious position, etc.) we often turn our desire into an idol worthy of our best worship. One of the Ten Commandments is “you shall not covet.” God considers discontent as significant a character flaw as murder, stealing, and adultery. Yet, how often do I consider my covetousness as a primary offense against God?

So I am on a quest to be content in all circumstances. And I am not just speaking about contentment in monetary resources or possessions. I am talking about contentment with every circumstance in life. I often want to trade in my job, or my family, or my recreation for a different model or for an idealized model. If only I could get the kids to act in this way, then life would be great. If only I could get this task accomplished at work, then life would be grand. If only I had the time to exercise or prepare these healthy meals, then my life would be care-free. 

The awful truth is that my mind often dwells on the what-ifs or the could-bes in life. And every time I dwell on the what-ifs, my contentment level sinks. I start to blame circumstances, or people, or God for the “defects” in my life (if I only had more money, if she’d only be willing to, if God would do this, then …).

I am also on a quest to find the most utility in those possessions I have, and to seriously evaluate my need for those possessions. Is it appropriate to have as many clothes as I have? And if so, then am I content with that and am I thankful to God for His provision of those clothes? Do I really need all the things that I have? How can I show gratefulness for what I do have? How might I show greater appreciation for the things that God has graciously given me that are not possessions (family, education, time, good health, etc.) but are invaluable to my personal fulfillment?

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I often daydream about my garden. I think about what might be. I plan for what I might plant next season. I picture what crops we might harvest, or what flowers we might see next season. I know it’s a silly example, but this is really how my mind works. But, my dreams often turn into desires, and I will pursue my desires no matter what the cost. Am I willing to sacrifice time with my son and daughter so that I can get a pint of blueberries next season? Would I spend untold amounts of money on mail-order plants and seeds and neglect spending time or money on a ministry God has called me to pursue?

What is your daydream garden of discontent? What would you be willing to sacrifice in pursuit of that garden?

I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave a comment of email me at faithofthisfather@gmail.com.

Why Study 1 Samuel as a Family?

I am going to post a series of reflections/Bible studies on the book of 1 Samuel. Here are some reasons that this ancient book should be read and studied today.

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It Tells Stories of Family

The book of 1 Samuel tells the stories of priests and kings. It also tells the stories of families. Whether it is Hannah being bullied by her husband's other wife or the priest Eli confronting his wayward sons, the book describes family at its best and worst. I think it is important for Christian families to see these examples of faithful and unfaithful persons.

It Is an Engaging Read

We love to hear and read stories. My daughter and I are avid readers. My son and daughter enjoy reading the "I Survived" book series that tells stories of fictional characters in real-event settings. Everyone in our family enjoys a good tale. The book of 1 Samuel tells a great true story. It is filled with intrigue and some humor. There is a lot of dramatic tension among family members and among King Saul and David. There are giants, ghosts, villains and heroes. Who says the Bible is old, tired, and boring? 

It Shows Families Worshiping God

Hannah's prayer of praise is such a great example of worship. We also see other people worshiping God. The book shows us something that is rare in today's world, families who place God first and foremost in all they do. That's a great message for us to reflect on today.

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It Shows People at Their Best and Worst

I don't know about you, but I like to see authentic people. I don't like reading stories about perfect people. I cannot relate to them. Can you? First Samuel shows us real people at their best and worst. The priest Eli is a wonderful servant of God, but a terrible father. Saul is a king with great promise, and overwhelming fears. Jonathan is a great friend. David is a faithful follower of God (we read about his downfall in 2 Samuel). I can relate to the real people in this book, and so can my kids. 

It Proves that God is in Control

Throughout the book we see God at work through the people in the book. They are not perfect, and they make decisions that displease God, but God is always in control. God's hand is ever present in the lives of the people of this time. And if He was in control during this time, we can rest assured that he is in control today, even when personal circumstances seem overwhelming to us. 

Ready for the journey? Let's jump in to a family Bible study of 1 Samuel.

When the Wheels Fall Off: My Journey to Find God Again

What happens when everything in your world is turned upside down?

That's the question I have been asking and trying to answer for three years. It has been a dark time. It has been a time when I have turned away from God. I have been angry at Him, at my family, at people who hurt me deeply.

My family has suffered because I have not been able (or willing) to lead them. I have prayed that God would take my life to spare my family the burden of living with this broken man whom they call husband or father.

In time, I will share some of the events that led to this dark time. For now, it is enough to say that there are times in our Christian walk when we seem to be alone.

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The Downward Spiral

Three years ago, I had to give up a floundering ministry. There are a number of reasons for this, some of them I created, some of them were created by others. Today, I can look back at this time and declare that it was the best decision for me and my family. At the time, however, it was difficult and crippling. It shattered my confidence in myself and my God. I felt hopeless -- and useless. I was of no use to my family or to myself.

After spending half a year in the same town where I gave up the ministry, we had an opportunity to move. My wife got a job in a different state, and we packed our bags to start this new journey. It was so important for our family to get out of the place that had turned toxic for us. We did leave good friends and family when we moved, but a fresh start was best for us.

Unfortunately, when we moved, I carried those feelings of uselessness and inadequacy with me. We thought this would be a good opportunity for me to get back into ministry, but the shadows of the past haunted me. I felt like I was submerged to my shoulders in quicksand, about to go under and suffocate.

A Glimmer of Hope

There was one ray of hope during this time. Although it was difficult for me to attend church, or read my Bible, or pray, I was still able to listen to Christian music. In fact, my daughter (now 9-years-old) insisted that we listen to Christian radio in my car. While many parts of my soul were covered by darkness, the radio brought some hope.

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We listened to K-LOVE and other Christian stations. We listened to songs of hopefulness. We listened to songs of trust in the midst of despair. We listened to songs that uplifted us.

For three years, I have listened to Christian music daily. Each day, the lyrics would penetrate a small portion of my soul. There has been no dramatic, overnight change in me. The truth is I am still a long way from where I want to be in my spiritual pilgrimage. But, I am getting there.

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My greatest regret is that my family has suffered due to my inability to move on. I have not been able to lead my family, and we have all suffered greatly because of that. The road to spiritual healthiness will be a long one. I am sure there will be many bumps along the way. But, we must start down this road.

Where Do We Go From Here?

So what, you ask? Honestly, I am not really sure. I want to once again share our family's journey of faith. I want to share with you resources and insights from our Christian journey. I want this site to be a place where broken people can come, lean on each other, and press on.

We are in no way ready to show you a healthy, happy Christian family. We probably never were. I do think, however, that our many failings will make us better able to share a real and evolving faith.

So Faith of This Father is back. I plan to go through some old content and revise it. I plan to share our current journey. I plan on writing and sharing my personal journey to find God again (He never left, I just lost sight of Him) through Bible studies.

Please, let me know how I can help you. What would you like to see from Faith of This Father? Send me an email: faithofthisfather@gmail.com