None of us ever arrive at contentment in this life by accident. As the Apostle Paul describes his own journey in the fourth chapter of Philippians, it is a learned process. It is a sometimes painful journey especially when we take control of our lives and say we have no need of God.
On page 16 (Dillow;2007) describes her journey:
“My journey to contentment began fifteen years ago when all my masterful methods of control evaporated. They quit working because life was out of control. Two of my children were on an "adolescent advance" in the wrong direction.I had become a Christian as a college student and was excited about rearing my children in a Christian home. I had the mistaken perspective that if I pumped all the "right" things (God, His Word) into my children, they would automatically love and obey God. When it looked like my plan wasn't working, my heart was anxious and I became depressed.When I told a friend about my fears, she observed, "Linda, you like control, and there are too many 'uncontrollables' in your life." At the time, I didn't understand what she meant. After all, I trusted God. I was a missionary— I was paid to trust God. What did she mean, "You like control"?Looking back, I realize I did desire to trust God, but sometimes He was very slow. When He was moving at what I thought was a snail's pace, I unconsciously decided He needed my help. I know that sounds blasphemous. God doesn't need our help. Yet when I stepped in to massage (the truer word is manipulate, but massage sounds better!) the circumstances or to organize the people, my actions were saying, "God, You're not doing what I think needs to be done, so I'll help You out." It's our "helping God out" that leads to an anxious heart. When we take over and try to control what happens, we take our focus off the One who is in control and put our eyes on our circumstances.” (p. 16)
This section is rich with transparent self-reflection. It tells of how we can be followers of Jesus, even missionaries in the vocational sense and yet still struggle with contentment. As I read this section, I make the connection between contentment and control. There is a correlation between how much we are content and how much control we give over to God. It can also be stated as the reverse. The less content we are can reflect how much control we have. As the passage states, there are so many uncontrollables in life, why not give it over to God?
Parenting is a prime example as stated here. We can create a Christian home, have daily devotions with our kids, bring them to church but we have no control over their spiritual health. This the blessing and curse of free will. We hope and pray and try our best for our kids to pursue God, but the end result is out of our control. We need to give God control and seek His wisdom, guidance, and help. This section also gets me thinking of Abraham. Sometimes we think God is too slow. How long did Abraham wait till he had his own son. What did he do about it? He took matters into his own hands. By doing so, we read about the family conflict that ensued. God’s timing is rarely quick or instant especially when it comes to things we want. God is here to teach us patience in the process.
Dillow shares two passages that helped her:
“Two verses guided me through those days. I memorized them, wrote them on my heart, and made a commitment to live them. First: God . . . is the blessed controller of all things, the king over all kings and the master of all masters, (1 Timothy 6:15, PH) I meditated on the truths in this verse: Who controls my life? God. What kind or a controller is He' Blessed. In the words of the well-known theologian J. I. Packer, "Contentment is essentially a matter of accepting from God's hand what He sends because we know that He is good and therefore it is good."The second verse was Psalm 16:5: Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. Speaker and author Elisabeth Elliot makes this thought- provoking statement about Psalm 16:5: I know of no greater simplifier for all of life. Whatever happens is assigned. Does the intellect balk at that? Can we say that there are things that happen to us that do not belong to our lovingly assigned "portion" ("This belongs to it, that does not")? Are some things, then, out of the control of the Almighty? Every assignment is measured and controlled for my eternal good. As I accept the given portion other options are canceled. Decisions become much easier, directions clearer, and hence my heart becomes inexpressibly quieter. A quiet heart is content with what God gives. Ella, the dear woman who was a missionary to Africa, knew that someone had to be "in control" of her life in this out-of-control world. Because she chose to let God be in charge instead of herself, she was a woman of contentment. (p. 16-17)
God is in control. Yet, how hard is it to believe that sometimes. As I write this I am discouraged over the news that a placement referral is not going to work. It is with an agency serving the blind, the only one in the area. For the longest time I wanted to work in an agency serving the blind population, and yet each attempt has resulted in a closed door. All my life I have wrestled with the question and reality of my disability. Yet Scripture reminds us God is in controlled. I love J. I. Packer’s comment. Accepting from God’s hand what He sends is contentment. Because God is good and what He sends is good, we can trust that it is for our benefit. This was the response song last Sunday. It seems appropriate to end with this:
THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU
THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU
NO ONE ELSE CAN TOUCH MY HEART LIKE YOU DO
I COULD SEARCH FOR ALL ETERNITY LONG,
AND FIND THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU(x2)
YOUR MERCY FLOWS LIKE A RIVER WIDE
AND HEALING COMES FROMYOUR HANDS
SUFFERING CHILDREN ARE SAFE IN YOUR ARMS
THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU
I COULD SEARCH FOR ALL ETERNITY LONG AND FIND
THERE IS NONE
THERE IS NONE
THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU
