Cindy Powell

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. –Phil.4:12

Are you content?

Right here. Right now. Exactly where you are. Doing what you are doing. Thinking what you are thinking. Feeling what you are feeling.

Today …

Are you content? 

Are you at peace?

Are you thankful?

Are you hopeful?

Are you joyful?

In any and every situation?  

That doesn’t mean being content with the situation–that’s a whole different story–but do you keep your peace, your hope, your joy in any and every situation?

I don’t know about you, but I certainly can’t say that I do. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I am content, but certainly not all the time.

Sometimes, I feel …

~Frustrated

~Anxious

~Thankless

~Hopeless

~Joyless

Because sometimes I’m focused more on my circumstances than on the One who is seated above all circumstances. Sometimes I’m more focused on me and how I feel, than on him and who he is.

I guess sometimes I’m just a slow learner.

But nevertheless, I am learning.  Thanks to the Lord’s enduring patience and kindness … I am learning.

I’m learning that it is possible.

I’m learning that it is possible to be content.

I’m learning that it is possible to be content in all circumstances.

Because all things are possible with God.

That’s the secret. It’s all about him and who he is. If it’s all up to me–this thing is over. But it’s not all up to me. Thank the Lord, it’s not!

Oh, I have a part. We all do. We need to agree with him. We need to agree with his Word. We need to yield to his Spirit.

We need to believe he is who he says he is and that he will do what he says he will do.

And this is what he says he will do:

~Always love you and never leave you

~Forgive all your sin and heal all your disease

~Cause beauty to rise from the ashes in your life

~Bring joy in the morning and new mercies every day

~Give you double honor instead of shame

~Deliver you from all your fear

And that’s just the short list!  (The really short list.)  No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.  

But in spite of all the amazing things he does and all the amazing things he has promised, the most amazing thing is simply who he is.

I think that’s why Paul learned to be content. He learned the secret. He wasn’t always content with his circumstances, but he learned to be content in his circumstances because he came to know and trust the heart of the One who was right there with him …

In every circumstance.

He’s with you too. And because he is — slowly — surely — little by little and bit by bit — day by day and year by year — you can learn the secret, too.

You can learn the secret of being content in any and every situation.

Lord, I’m so glad that nothing is impossible for you. You never speak a word without also releasing the grace to fulfill it. And there is grace–in you–to learn contentment in each and every season of our lives. So help us to learn, Lord–help us to learn the secret of being content.~Amen