I woke up this morning to my husband staring at the hallway ceiling outside our bedroom door. Water was dripping down the wall, bubbling up behind my favorite shade of grey paint. It’s been raining all week in Tennessee, and apparently, we have a weak spot in our roof.  

We aren’t newbies to the water leakage game. Our cement roof in Haiti had more cracks than we could count. One, in particular, was right over our bed. During the rainy season, we had to drape towels over our mosquito net. If not, our faces would be drenched by more than just sweat come morning.  

I must confess, I have a hard time being content when there are holes in my roof. When the rain comes inside my house. Drips down my walls. Splashes on my face while sleeping. In moments like these, I have to force myself to remember that God never promised to keep me, or the inside of my house, dry. What He did promise, however, is peace.  

Philippians 4 is, perhaps, my favorite chapter in the whole Bible. Here, Paul tells us not to be anxious about anything, but to instead bring all our troubles to God (v.6). He later goes on to share that he has learned to be content in life, no matter the circumstances (v.11). I love knowing that Paul’s ability to be content was a learned behavior. Contentment didn’t come naturally for him either. He had to learn how to focus his mind on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable” (v.8). Only then could he be truly content.  

In verse 9, Paul tells us to put into practice what we have learned from him. And if we do, God’s peace will be with us. Maybe you don’t have a leaky roof in your house right now, but is there something else in your life that is keeping you from being content? If so, take time today to learn from Paul. Refocus your mind on all that is good. Present your request to God. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (v.9).