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June 21, 2023

Celebrating Contentment in the Presence of God

June 21, 2023 by CARISSA JOY STRUM CONTENTMENT Contentment Hope Reliance Abide
Celebrating Contentment in the Presence of God
  • by CARISSA JOY STRUM
  • Comment
“My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.”
Psalms 131

Little snowflakes are falling together in a flurry outside my window as I write these words. Having recently moved from a very sunny place to a place with significantly more weather, I’m shocked at how powerful seasons are. The snow today cancelled schools, closed stores, and is forcing people to stay at home. It’s astounding how something as delicate as a single snowflake has the power, when combined with millions of similar snowflakes, to change our plans and routines. The weather is a powerful reminder of how dependent we are on God. We are not in control, even when we think we are (James 4:13-15). 


What’s your gut reaction to remembering that you aren’t in control? Personally, I tend to grab for control and feel like I need control to be content, but Psalm 131 stops me in my tracks. King David himself writes that he doesn’t concern himself with things that are “too wonderful for” him. I remember when, as a child, my whole world felt complete when my parents were with me. I wasn’t worried because I knew they’d take care of me if anything came up. What if we acted in a similar way toward God? What if, instead of vying for control and getting frustrated at our lack of control, we thanked God for His power and trusted His control? Thankfulness and trust breed contentment because our hope rests in God and not ourselves. We can humbly rejoice in His plans and release our own when we quiet our hearts like David did and don’t try to understand everything always. We are free to be content whatever is going on, because our hope is in our secure and eternal King (Phil. 4:12-13). 


When our hope is in God, we focus on God more. As we gaze on the Lord, our hope increases due to an increased knowledge of who God is. Ultimately, God is the only One who will fulfill our every need. We find our contentment in Him because He is our Hope “both now and forevermore” (Psalm 131:3). God is in control and working all things out for the good of His children with a love bigger than we can dream of (Romans 8:28-39). Let’s receive whatever God brings today, and fix our hope on our Father as we celebrate His contentment and presence. Instead of trying to control the snowstorm, I choose today to enjoy the snow and sit content as I rejoice in the beauty of my Creator. 

Closing Prayer
Father God, We love You! Thank You for taking care of us and of the world in a way that only You can. You understand all things, and in You everything holds together (Col. 1:17). We pause and quiet our hearts before You, laying all of our cares and all of ourselves at Your feet. We are content in Your presence; You are all we need (Psalm 16). Please help us to truly quiet our souls before You. We need Your help to be still and content. We seek Your wisdom to discern what You want us to focus on and what You want us to let go of. We celebrate and rejoice in You; You are our Father, King, and eternal Hope! In the name of Jesus we gratefully pray. Amen.
Resources
Song: Forever Amen by Steffany Gretzinger This beautiful song is a heartfelt prayer reflecting the preeminence of God’s presence and voice. When we remember that life is found in God Himself, we are moved to contentment in His presence. Allow this song to wash over you. Even if you don’t feel content or at peace, I hope this song reminds you of the reality that in Christ, you have been given peace and freedom and belonging as God’s own child.
Article: Finding Contentment in a Discontented World by Glenna Marshall, from the Daily Grace Co. This powerful article reveals how we can have the hope and contentment found in Christ alone. I love how it connects the book of Hebrews with the concept of contentment! While it’s written through the lens of the 2020 COVID pandemic, its truth is applicable for any season. I hope that reading this encourages and challenges you as it did for me.
Question for Reflection

David explains that he has “calmed and quieted” himself after letting go of things that are in God’s hands and not his. What’s one simple way you can begin to quiet yourself this week as you grow in contentment and enjoy the presence of your Father God?

Comments
Carissa Joy Strum
June 21, 2023

Honestly, my thoughts are often racing with different tasks to do or things to accomplish. This makes me feel constantly stressed and uptight. This week, I want to invite the Holy Spirit to come and quiet my thoughts so I can better focus on Jesus and His goals and Kingdom. Instead of always thinking about the next thing I need to do, I want to be present in the moment and experience God’s presence. Some simple ways to cultivate this for me are memorizing Scripture (I’ve been working on Psalm 16 for a while), thinking of worship song lyrics, or thanking God for His character and provision! Even if I feel anything but content, reminding myself of God’s Word helps me to remember that I am whole in God’s presence, whether I feel like it or not!