The Key to Joyful Living

Some days are just average.

Some days are not exactly what you thought or wished they would be.

It’s easy to complain. It’s easy to sink into self pity.

I deserve better than this, you tell yourself. I was meant for more. I work too hard to settle for less than I want.

I should know. I make a pit stop in the land of discontent at least once a month.

It happened to me last week. I had looked forward to my vacation after pushing myself really hard at work. I expected the world. What I got was a wedding in Dallas instead. Not that I don’t like Dallas or weddings and such. It’s just that I wanted Italy, or Spain – even Scotland would do.

So I sulked, and I whined, and I sat in the corner licking my wounds. Then I swore and I screamed and I threw a few punches.

Until someone called my bluff: I was not being content.

Don’t you hate it when people you love are right and you’re not? Don’t you hate it when truth is loud and rings, well… true?

When you’re face to face with the truth, the best thing you can do is accept it and change. The sooner you do it the happier you’ll be. So I determined to be content.

But how can you be content when you’re holding a glass of milk you don’t really want to drink? How can you be content when you’re staring at a life that’s less than you want?

I looked to the Apostle Paul to figure it out. Here’s what he says in Philippians 4:11-13:

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

It’s not as hard as you think, but it’s certainly not as easy as you’d like. Either way, I’d like to give you 3 keys to contentment according to God’s Word:

1. Contentment is a process. The apostle Paul may have naturally been many things, but contentment was not part of his genetic fiber. Twice in these verses Paul uses the word “learned” to remind us that contentment is not natural. It is an attitude that is learned over time. Think about it. It takes most kids 12 years to get their GED – that’s because learning is a process that happens over time. It’s the same way with contentment. You can only learn it one day at a time over a lifetime.

2. Contentment is not dependent on circumstances. Paul knew the best and worst of times. He wrote the letter to the Philippians while he was in a Roman prison, so he definitely understood difficult days. But there were good days too. Either way, he was determined to be content. Stop waiting on your circumstances to change. Determine to be content right now, right where you are.

3. Contentment is possible because of Christ. Most of us have used Philippians 4:13 as our rabbit foot, our good luck charm, our chinese fortune cookie. We grab onto it before a big test, before the lottery numbers are chosen, or before sky diving. Yet a careful look at the context shows that Paul is referring to leaning on Christ’s strength in this specific area of contentment. It doesn’t matter what you are facing or what you think you deserve, you can live the life God has given you today no matter what – because of Christ’s strength in you.

The biggest lie you’ll ever believe is the one that tells you  that you’ll be happy when you go somewhere, meet someone, or buy something. Instead, when you look at your life and can honestly say: “it is enough. I have all I need right here right now”, you’ll know true joy.

Contentment after all, is the key to joyful living – no matter where you go or what you do or who you do it with.

So how do you like that?

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