Episode #348 Content in the Wrestling – How to Bring Your Feelings to God
From Today's Episode:
In today’s episode, we talk about the the secret to contentment.
Contentment isn't pretending everything is fine — it's something you learn, and something God actually helps you carry. Jen digs into Paul's words in Philippians 4 and walks through what it looks like to bring your real needs and real hunger to God, and let His strength be enough. If you've been wondering how to hear from God in a season of lack or longing, this conversation is a gentle place to start.
Our Good God talks with us and we're created for life with Him, so let's experience more of it!
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Verse
Philippians 4:11–13
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
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Question
God, I wanna bring to you what I'm going through. What does it look like for me to have contentment empowered by your strength even here?
Here's the episode transcript
You know a feeling that we don't talk about near enough? Contentment. Now, wait, don't leave the episode. I think there's something fresh that God wants to share with us today. And by us, I mean, me included. See, contentment is in that happiness category. Being good with what I have. Accepting what is. And I feel like so often the harder emotions capture our attention, right? The longing that we have. The pain that we're walking through. The hope for things that aren't yet.
I am an achiever person. I like to work hard and so I can focus on execution and goals, and I'm always working towards something. But even in hoping for things in the future and working towards good goals, we can have contentment in what we have. And we can have that in hard times, too. We see this in Philippians 4:11-13 because Paul is content in both plenty and in need. He says:
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
Now, this last part of this passage really jumped out at me. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” I never thought about that before in the context of contentment. Whether I am in need or I have a lot, whether things feel successful or failing, whether I am hungry or fully fed, I can be content because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. That connection is blowing my mind a little bit because it connects contentment to the Lord's strength. By God's strength, by his strong supply, I can be content in what I have. It doesn't mean that I'm gonna settle, that I'm never gonna want to eat again, that I'm not gonna work hard. It's none of those things. But it's a resting that comes because he is my supply. Because I am grateful for what I have because I'm able to recognize the good in what I have in front of me. And accept what is now. This is a wrestling thing for me because it's hard to accept what is when what is isn't enough. When you go to bed hungry. When it feels like hope is deferred for a dream that is still in your heart. You see the need for other people. When you have a need for something that is good.
And so the invitation that I feel is before us today is not to just settle and say, okay, well I'm supposed to be content, so I'm gonna pretend to be content. But is to actually take what we're feeling and what we're going through and the circumstances that we're in to the Lord. And invite him into the wrestling with us.
“God, I'm in need right now. I have been brought low. I don't feel like I'm abounding. I need to learn the secret of facing hunger and need in your strength. Help me do even these things by your strength. Show me what that looks like. How can I be content even as I pursue a different outcome and a better circumstance? Even as I work hard, help me to be content. Show me what that looks like.”
This is an interesting thought exercise for me, but I don't want to just keep it in my head and I know you don't either. I want this to be a shared conversation that I have with God. I want this to grow in me something in my own fortitude, in my heart as a believer, and in my relationship with him that I haven't explored yet. Especially for those areas where I'm in need or I can be afraid of failure or lack.
I also think it's worth noting that Paul doesn't give up here. He doesn't throw in the towel and say, “Well, this is just my lot. I'm never gonna have abundance. I'm never gonna have enough to eat. I'm never going to have plenty.” But he says, “No matter what I go through, I can be content in the Lord, I can have his strength sustain me.”
And so that's the question that's on my heart to talk with God about today. And I invite you to do the same:
God I wanna bring to you what I'm going through. What does it look like for me to have contentment empowered by your strength even here?
Have a good talk.
And if you've been encouraged by this content, please share it with a friend and help them grow in their conversational relationship with God too!
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