Learning Contentment
Learning Contentment Key Verse: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” —1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV)
The Uninvited Hustle For years, I lived with a secret, exhausting belief: “If I stop moving, it will all fall apart.” The hustle was uninvited but ever-present. Juggling kids, a career, going back to college to finally finish my degree, and a home as a single mom meant I couldn’t afford to pause—not emotionally, financially, or physically. I didn’t trust many people, and truthfully, I didn’t even trust God with the details. I had been hurt. Let down. Left behind. So I picked up every spinning plate and said, “If anyone’s going to make this work—it’s going to be me.” And somewhere in all that striving… I lost the gift of contentment. I was living on fast-forward. Chasing the next to-do. Dreaming of the next escape. Planning for the next thing that might make it all finally feel “okay.” But here's what I’ve learned the hard way: Contentment is not the absence of desire—it's the practice of presence. I wasn’t lazy. I was terrified. If I stopped, if I let myself feel the ache or admit the loneliness or accept the stillness, I thought I’d crumble. But God—rich in grace—began to gently call me back.
Biblical Insight & Word Study Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:6: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” This is more than a refrigerator verse—it’s a rescue line. Let’s break it down: Godliness (eusebeia): Deep reverence and awareness of God’s presence in everyday life. Contentment (autarkeia): A soul that is inwardly sufficient, not because of circumstances, but because of trust in God. Paul doesn’t say it’s great gain to have everything you want. He says it’s gain to walk with God in peace over what He’s already provided. Even Paul had to learn this. In Philippians 4:11–13, he says: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances…” He doesn’t say I was born content. He learned it—through hunger, abundance, prison, community, joy, and loss. He wrote that when he was sitting in the smallest prison cell you've ever imagined. I was fortunate to see this cell when I visited Rome a few years ago. It's tiny, musty, mildewed, dark and lonely doesn't even begin to describe it. So if you’re still learning—you’re not behind. You’re just human.
Focus & the Gorilla Experiment There’s a well-known psychology experiment referenced in books like The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. It’s often called "The Invisible Gorilla." Here’s what happened: Participants watched a short video of people passing a basketball and were told to count how many times the ball was passed. While they were focused, a person in a gorilla suit walked straight through the group, paused, beat their chest, and walked off. When asked afterward, over 50% of viewers didn’t even see the gorilla. Why? Because our focus determines our awareness. We often miss the most obvious thing when we're obsessing over something else. I share this because when you're consumed with what's next—more security, a new relationship, a different job—you miss the gorilla in the room: God’s presence. Right here. Right now. 💡 God’s Invitation to Sit in the “Now” Here’s what I would tell my younger, striving self: You don’t need to hustle your way into joy. You don’t have to escape your discomfort. You can sit in your messy, in-between life and still encounter God. “Be still, and know that I am God.” —Psalm 46:10 The word still in Hebrew, “raphah,” means to loosen, let drop, to abandon striving. What if stillness is not weakness but worship?
Practicing Contentment Let’s get practical. Here are ways to stop striving and start staying: 1. Breathe & Be. At any moment today, pause. Breathe in slowly, saying, “You are enough.” Breathe out, “I will rest.” 2. Gratitude Rewires the Brain. List three things you are thankful for right now. Do this daily for 21 days. Gratitude interrupts anxiety. 3. Sit with Your Sadness. Don’t escape it. Invite Jesus into it. Contentment doesn’t mean denying hard things—it means anchoring yourself to hope in the middle of them. 4. Change your question. Instead of “What’s next?” try “What’s sacred about right now?”
Closing Prayer- God, You know my mind runs miles ahead of my heart. I’ve been afraid to stop. Afraid to rest. But You invite me to sit, to breathe, to believe that You are enough for me today. Help me see what I already have. Help me notice the “gorillas” of Your goodness walking right through my busy mind. Teach me to be still. Amen.
Today’s Recipe: Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Soup This is comfort in a bowl—perfect for quiet evenings when your soul needs rest. Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup carrots, diced 1/2 cup celery, chopped 1/2 cup onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 6 cups chicken broth 1 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken 1 cup cooked wild rice 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half Salt, pepper, and thyme to taste Instructions: In a large pot, melt butter and sauté carrots, celery, and onion until softened (about 5–7 mins). Add garlic, cook 1 min more. Stir in flour to form a paste. Slowly whisk in chicken broth. Simmer until thickened. Stir in chicken, wild rice, and cream. Season with salt, pepper, and thyme. Simmer gently for 10–15 mins. Serve with warm bread—or just a quiet heart. 🍽️ Serve with this prayer: “God, thank You for today. Help me savor what You’ve given me—body and soul.”
