The Content of Contentedness

I was reading an article that WordPress put out about the importance of a good title… after which I wrote this down:

The Content of Content

Until I wrote it down, I had NO clue that the two main words of my title were spelled the same way.

This presented somewhat of a conundrum, because there was no way for my title’s meaning to be clear.

The conundrum was solved, as a great many conundrums are: by the wit and intelligence of my wonderful wife. She presented me with the articles current title.

Why do I share this with you? Well.. honestly because this conundrum made me think.. and I had fun thinking about it.

The two meanings of the word content (that I mean) are as follows:

1. In a state of peaceful happiness

2. the things that are held or included in something.

Mulling over my title was very interesting… BUT any way I thought about it still led me back to two very basic questions.

1. What does it mean to actually be content with your life (in definition 1)

2. What would have to be in your life, (definition 2), for you to achieve this state of peaceful happiness

Let’s take a whack at answering these questions shall we?

The Apostle Paul writes this:

“—for whatever circumstance I am in, I have learned to be content.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬, ‭13‬ ‭TLV‬‬

The Greek word for content here is: αὐτάρκης (autarkēs)

In Strongs Dictionary this word means sufficient for oneself, strong enough or possessing enough to need no aid or support; independent of external circumstances;

This seems to suggest a definition of entirely self sufficient contentment…. However two verses later Paul tells us this isn’t what he means. He says this:

“I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭TLV‬‬

For Paul, contentment means having Messiah… which I think answers question 2. Paul went through many things in his lifetime… he gained and lost many things… but he considered Messiah to be the one real thing.. the one necessary thing. The one constant.

Lately, i haven’t been all that content. I became aware of this when I finally released what I was struggling with to Jesus. Afterwards, I found myself in this state of peaceful happiness.

I was sitting around my dining room table playing cards with my wife and mother in law when this thought occurred to me.

Huh? Interesting. (Though My brain)

What did I need to release?

Well…I’m working towards this other position at work…, and while I love my job I have found myself craving the flexibility that comes with the other job . It would be really beneficial for me and my family to have this flexibility.

Then through a series of assessments, I realized that I was further from this job (time wise) then I wanted to be.

Finding contentedness: Means accepting this reality as it is. It means recognizing that God knows what he is doing.

For me, it meant agreeing with Him and finding joy in the midst of my present trials.

Through my counselor, and other ways it became clear to me that I am exactly where God wants me to be right now… and there is nothing I can do to make the other thing happen. At least not without losing my present contentment.

So yeah… I know I’m a sucker for Jesus. He is the only one who HAS been there for me all this time.

I have lost it all before. I lost my family through my parents divorce (Mom, yes I know I never lost you)

AND I did run from Jesus. I ran from him hard… but He never ran from me. He never let me go.

If you read one of my former posts: “Wardens of the NightWatch” I mentioned a night where I left home in the middle of the night. My Mom… sensing I was gone, called me on my cell phone.

After my mom read this post she responded that she actually remembered God urging her to call.1

I have so many stories from this season where God showed up in unique ways… painful ways even… but He showed up like God did for Job in the whirlwind.2

So what is the content of contentment?

He is. He is the content of True Contentment.

So may you find your contentment in Him… Knowing that He is truly what you need… though He will give you so much more. May you love Him… as He loves you. So deeply!

Footnotes

1. Her total response:

I remember that call, because it was God urging me to call. It was done out of love. Warden is good, but I prefer Guardian, someone who cares for persons or property; a defender, protector, shielder. God gave me the privilege to be yours for a short time, even though He was the one doing it. So Warden may be the better term, since I was His appointed helper.
Much love Mom♥️

2. Job 38-41: Referenced in more detail in: The Father’s Goodness

JustDad.Blog