Finding Contentment In Tough Times

Contentment In All Things

Learning to be Content in Christ

Philippians 4:11–13 (NLT)

11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11–13 NLT

11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

The Apostle Paul was a man who had gone through so many hardships I don’t even have time to count and when you look at where he had come from upper society a life full of worldly satisfaction. But Paul was never satisfied in those things he was empty inside until the Lord got a hold of him on the road to Damascus and turned his heart towards Him.

So how did Paul find contentment in tough times? We are going to look at this passage today and really break it down as it gives a clear defined role as to what Paul did to arrive to this position.

Paul saw his situation as one that he was fine. But how did he arrive there?

He made God the center point - When you lean on God your joy will be genuine.

There was a children's song I learned years ago, called “The Joy of the Lord”

(sing the song)

Romans 15:13 NLT

13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

You must be filled with the Holy Spirit - As believers we are all filled the Holy Spirit, this is important because it is the Holy Spirit who is a comforter.

John 14:26 NLT

26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

Psalm 94:19 NLT

19 When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Psalm 23:1

Elisabeth Elliot has told the story of a toddler who was very ill but had learned to recite the Twenty-third Psalm on her fingers. Starting with her pinkie, she would grab a finger as she said each word of “The Lord is my shepherd.” As she said the word shepherd, she would clasp her thumb in recognition of the care God has for her.

One morning, after a long and hard fight against her disease, the little girl was found dead with one hand clasped around the other thumb. The Lord is her shepherd. He has made her to lie down in green pastures. He has led her to quiet waters. Surely she will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.1512

Satisfaction with one’s situation

Philippians 4:12 NLT

12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.

Pauls secret was doing the will of God. Learning to be content by never looking to the right or the left but always keeping his eye on the prize.

Start doing the will of God in your life. Not your will, but His will be done.

Remember what Jesus said:

Luke 22:42 NLT

42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Remember what Paul said:

2 Corinthians 12:7–9 NLT

7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Change your perspective on how you see the things of God.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Contentment

A Puritan sat down to his meal and found that he had only a little bread and some water. His response was to exclaim, “What? All this and Jesus Christ, too!”

Contentment is found when we have a correct perspective on life.248

Riches do not bring satisfaction

Hebrews 13:5 NLT

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

Ecclesiastes 5:10 NLT

10 Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!

Be careful what you ask for, the grass is definitely not greener over on the other side!

Proverbs 27:20 NLT

20 Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied.

Two little teardrops were floating down the river of life. One teardrop asked the other, “Who are you?”

“I am a teardrop from a girl who loved a man and lost him. But who are you?”

The first teardrop replied, “I am a teardrop from the girl who got him.”

Life is like that. We cry over the things we can’t have, but we might cry twice as hard if we had received them. Paul had the right idea when he said, “… I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation …”

God Is The Prize Run Towards Him To Win

Philippians 4:13 NLT

13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Paul trained to keep all of his being on and into Christ.

Keep your focus on Christ that is where you will find contentment. Take your eyes off of Christ and that is where you will find contamination.

1 John 2:15–17 NLT

15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Paul had learned how to endure through tough times. Listen all of this is teaching you how to endure through tough times.

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 NLT

24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Contentment

A little Swiss watch had been made with the smallest of parts and great skill. Yet it was dissatisfied with its restricted sphere of influence on a lady’s wrist. It envied the position of the great tower clock on the city hall. One day as it passed with its owner by the city hall, the tiny watch exclaimed, “I wish I could go way up there! I could then serve many instead of just one.” Now it so happened that its owner was in a position with the city that gave her access to the tower clock, so she said, “You shall have your opportunity, little watch.”

The next day, a slender thread was let down from the tower and the little watch was tied to it. Slowly and carefully, the watch was pulled up the side of the tower, rising higher and higher each moment. Of course, when it reached the top, it was completely lost to view. In this dramatic way, the watch learned that its elevation had effected its annihilation!

Pray that you too may not lose the small influence you now have for Christ by coveting something larger for which you are not equipped, and which God constantly refuses you in his love. Learn to be content.246

Have you ever noticed you don’t correct things until serious situations forces you to correct them?

But that is the special gift of Gods love and grace for us. He cares enough for us to help us get it right. Amen!