Contentment: On Failure and Hope

I made my list of things to do in order to find contentment a mere week ago, and I’ve already failed. Miserably.

My brain goes places that I would not want anyone to see. I’m often a miserable grouch and take out my frustrations on other people. I think badly of others and struggle against letting those thoughts slip through my lips or my fingers as I type. I don’t like what is in my head. It is not honorable or lovely or kind.

I worry and pray (instead of just praying) – about my husband’s job, our finances, what our lives will look like in 10 years, and on and on. I stuff my face with comfort foods, longing for (temporary) relief, instead of relying solely on God’s peace to ease my fretting heart. His peace, offered freely to me for the taking.

Life is filled with suffering and I have to actively work to recognize my blessings. I have to purposefully focus on being thankful. My weak places are not pretty; instead they are riddled with selfish ugliness. Ouch. That is a hard thing to admit.

Are you wondering if I’m putting anything on my list into action? That is a very good question. Truth is, the answer is both yes and no. I have been recognizing when ugliness bubbles up and out of me. I am ashamed of it and struggle against it, with great effort. God has been speaking to my heart a great deal on this subject of late.

Here’s the thing, we all struggle with weak places. I think as long as we are, in fact, struggling against them, we can claim the following verse written by the apostle Paul.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.

~ Romans 8:1-2

Paul knew all about weak places. We tend to think of Paul as the guy that figured out the secret of contentment, but read what he said in the previous chapter:

I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate.

~ Romans 7:15

Yeah, that sounds like me. A lot like me.

Are you thinking that same thing? We all struggle against our sinful nature. Even Paul did. But (and this is the amen part) Paul also says this:

So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.

~ Romans 8: 12

I told you there would be an amen point.

Our sinful nature neither condemns us nor makes us obligated to obey.

We are free, because of the One to whom we belong.

There is no condemnation. Let those words soak into your heart for a minute. No condemnation. Jesus offers forgiveness, peace, and contentment to those who belong to him. Will you accept?

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This post is the 2nd in a series on contentment:
Part 1: The Secret of Contentment
Part 3: Contentment: On Endurance