Crushing DiscontentmentSample

Have you ever received a gift that you didn’t exactly love or even need? I have. There’s a “special” drawer in my house for gifts that will be repackaged and recycled.

In our passage today, the apostle Paul mentions a gift he received from the Philippian church. While he is thankful for the gift, he says he doesn’t exactly need it because he has “learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4: 11).

What if we too experienced that sense of deep contentment no matter what our situation? How is that even possible? What was Paul’s “secret of being content in any and every situation?” (Philippians 4: 12)

Well, thankfully, Paul shares his secret with us. He says: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

When Paul refers to “all this,” he says he can do even the impossible thing of being content despite circumstances because he finds his satisfaction in Jesus.

Lest we assume that Paul was a superhuman with a naturally content disposition, here’s what we need to note: Paul learned to be content. Twice in our passage today Paul mentions that he “learned” contentment.

Friend, if you feel discontented, know that you’re not alone. Contentment is not intuitive. Even for the Bible’s most famous evangelist who wrote most of the books of the New Testament, contentment didn’t come easy. Like Paul, we need to learn to find our contentment in Christ.

With Philippians 4: 10-13 as our backdrop, let’s dive into five causes of discontentment and five ways we can crush those seemingly valid reasons. Let’s learn how to be content in Christ.

Reflection: What are some ways you’ve let circumstances dictate your sense of satisfaction? Have you considered that Christ is the only One who can fulfill your deepest need?

Lean In: Father God, I am sometimes deeply disappointed and discontent when circumstances don’t align with my expectations. Would You change me so I truly understand that my soul’s satisfaction is found in Christ alone? Amen