Content In All Circumstances

Depending on one’s definition of contentment the concept can be more or less elusive and perhaps seemingly impossible to attain. For most people being content renders images of money enough to retire on, being surrounded by loved ones and maintaining ideal health… forever. Such goals are reasonable within the human perspective on life. We look for security in the things we can see, touch and feel. Hoping to be happy based on gratitude given by others is clearly a natural aspiration. What if…what about - when these circumstances change? What then? Is contentment more elusive than ever?

I hope in speaking for myself, more than one reader can identify with my regret over being foolish with finances and ruining the notion of early retirement. Having lived long enough to recount a number of bad decisions about relationships, I may have reduced my circle of love. One reason to write this blog is to share trials with cancer in hopes to encourage others, so clearly good health can’t be my source of contentment either. It seems to me contentment must be defined as a state of satisfaction, which can’t be altered by outside conditions. But can we be content in ALL circumstances? As a Bible believing Christian I am confident lasting contentment is attainable inasmuch as we desire to know Jesus; the One who keeps and delivers our souls.

Today, I had an exercise in learning to be content. As I sat in the doctor’s office waiting to find out if the two dense spots they found on a mammogram last month were anything to be concerned about, I considered the state of my heart. Anxiety wanted to creep in. Worry was waiting at the door. What would be the point of worrying about the outcome of the test? Jesus put it this way: "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matthew 6:25-27) I prayed to the Lord again today to help me be content no matter what the test showed; positive or negative – “let me praise You Lord Jesus because You are so good to me.” I never met the technician before today, but I was elated when she told me I just had simple cysts – nothing to worry about.

As one of my doctors is given to say about cancer; “Once bitten twice shy.” It is a real possibility that though cancer is now in submission, it may reappear. To live in fear of any disease is far from biblical. “Perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4  To live in fear that my life may end sooner than later is a waste of the precious time God has allotted. Oh to be content always, in a constant state of dependence on the Lord! How much better that would be!

The apostle Paul wrote these words for our benefit: “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13) Paul did not just arrive at this pinnacle of peace without first suffering loss. Of his tribulations he writes: “Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness-- besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. (1 Corinthians 11:25-28)

All this Paul endured for the sake of Christ, for the privilege of knowing and proclaiming the One who set him free from sin and death! He was content I think because he knew that this world was not his home and a “better country” awaited him. Until I reach my heavenly habitation, I expect to wrestle against worry and at times find true contentment elusive. As Jesus replaces fear with peace of mind and perfect love I expect to be less encumbered by the world and look ever forward to the day when I meet my Lord at the door to His mansion above. With God all things are possible!

For more posts from Comfort in Christ Cancer Support go to http://comfortinchristcancersupport.blogspot.com/

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Worship in Trial

How much can be endured? Why must we suffer at all? Last night after church service, one of the elders of the church gathered some others to pray for me because I had shared that a recent mammogram had shown some density that needs to be re-imaged. (See - James 5:14)  It’s been almost 16 months now that I’ve been treated for lung cancer with chemo, surgery, radiation and more chemo. After sharing this brief summary with one of these fine gentlemen he said, “Are you the daughter of Job?”

Not so amazingly to me anymore, the daily devotional I received in my email this morning was about the book of Job, chapter 1 to be specific. Job was being tested in his faith and in the process this man of great wealth lost all his sons and daughters, livestock and servants. His response is awesome! The scriptures say he "tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:20-21)

The scriptures are jammed packed with figures from history that have endured many trials. Hebrews 11 illustrates the lives of prophets, kings and everyday people who were mocked, put in chains, stoned, sawn in two, tortured and so on for the sake of the gospel; because they saw in their hearts the God that was yet unseen with the naked eye. They desired “…a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:16) There is a tendency to look to these martyrs as our example to the point of forgetting Christ alone is the example of faith to follow. May it never be! Yet, such sacrifice made for the sake of Jesus is inspiring and looking at the suffering Job endured has been especially meaningful to me. His trial drew him closer to the Lord and much less dependent on the things of the world. How needful it’s been to find deeper peace of mind and spirit as the body I’ve known for many years is altered by drugs and incisions. Wisdom and true perspective on the point of life has certainly been the best by-product of suffering in the flesh.

The word of God says this: “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1-2) The point of life for all of us is to live in the will of God. Because of our pride He must tear us down to build up His life in us so He can work through us to reach others. Without doubt I’m a far cry from reaching the point of total submission to the Lord. There remains far too much that I try to control and pride is subtle. Admittedly I can’t do without the Holy Spirit operating through God’s Word and fellowship with His people to rein me in, tame my tongue and change my mind to be more like Christ. Oh, how I want to be more like Him – to press on toward the upward call of God. It is so much better than being tethered to a world that is most evidently passing away.

A friend of ours named Kyle Peart told me the other night “It’s good for you to die, but not good for those who don’t know Christ.” If I didn’t know the God of my salvation that statement might have offended me but I do know Him and understood exactly what Kyle meant – not that I should die but should in effect adopt the attitude Paul expressed: “to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak.” 1 Corinthians 9:17-27 The best attitude is contentment in all circumstances and a heart of worship. This can be done because Jesus in the “heavenly country” is the focal point; the prize that awaits. He so wants to have vessels that are pliable and fit for His use to declare with tears at times, “my God is mighty to save.”    

For more posts from Comfort in Christ Cancer Support go to http://comfortinchristcancersupport.blogspot.com/

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