Contentment & Purity.

Contentment.


Isn't it funny how difficult the concept is behind this one word. As I sit at my desk this evening the idea of it weighs heavy on my heart. It’s cold outside, colder than perhaps it should be this time of year and the heat is blowing through the vent rustling my papers. I dislike the cold, I would prefer it was summer and I was feeling energized from all the outdoor activities that come from the summer season.
And this word is heavy on my heart tonight.


Contentment.


Perhaps it’s because just when we think we grasp the idea of it, something comes and knocks us down in life and once again we feel like we are aiming for it.
While talking with several friends this week, this topic came up. In totally unrelated life situations this topic came up time again. Because really, all of us battling with it in some form or another.
There are things that make each of us discontent with where life has us.

I don’t what that is personally for you. What makes you discontent with where you are.
Maybe you are single and waiting for God to write your love story still, or married waiting for a baby, having health issues or even struggling financially. Waiting for God to answer a question you have. All of us have this feeling of being discontent with where God has us at some time or another. Discontent with the season life is currently in. With the waiting.


The hubby and I were talking in the car about this topic on the way home from our date night. As we talked about purity and the significance it has on our entire lives, he wisely pointed out that since purity is about so much more than just sexual purity, contentment plays a role. Purity is about the way we live life, living in light of God’s amazing love. He mentioned how by being discontent we could actually be living impurely. We are being ungrateful for what God has chosen us for in this season. We are choosing to not live in light of His love but question His goodness and perfect plans for us. Purity is so much more than just about sex or keeping ourselves physically pure before marriage. It affects us in every stage of life, in every relationship situation.

For whatever reason, that situation we are holding onto for our contentment, we believe will make us happy. There is a part of us that really thinks if we just had that one thing, everything would be ok. That if God gave it to us, we could fully trust Him with the rest.
Often the thing we most want is withheld.
God in all His wisdom, does not do this to be mean....I don’t believe that for a second. But He knows what we really need in this season. What will grow us and shape us into the women we were created to be to accomplish His work here.

{Via}

A lot of people have said to me of course you say this, you’re married. You don’t have to struggle any longer with feeling lonely and discontent in your relationship. I will be brave here and tell you from my experience, that’s incorrect.
Getting married just shifts the discontentment from a desired relationship onto something else. Learning to be content with where God has us is something to be grasped regardless of where we are in life. It’s an ongoing lesson often for me.


Contentment is choosing to trust God for our joy.
To turn to him to fill us.
Regardless of our relationship situation.
Or the circumstances around us.


When single, I desperately wanted a relationship and to be engaged. Then once I was engaged, I noticed that instead of feeling content, I wanted to just be married already.
I began to see the ongoing pattern.
Once married, I would probably want a baby, then a house and well it never ends.
There will always be things that we desire or think will make us content in life.
But I don’t think it’s true.
We already have all we need.
We have to choose contentment. Regardless of our circumstances.

'Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.'

Philippians 4:11-12

How do you guys find contentment?

Much Love,

L