The God Who Brings Contentment and Inner Peace
A seasoned, spiritually mature Paul said, “For I have learned how to be content in whatever state I am.” He had fought the good fight of faith, and was spiritually resting in the unconditional peace that a transforming relationship with Lord Yahweh creates. Inner peace and contentment are for those who persevere and press forward in faith, hope, and love through a lifetime of ups and downs on earth. Paul learned this valuable education in the same “school of life” that we all attend. True enrichment comes from the blessing of the Lord, with rest and contentment in knowing that it all comes from him. The Proverbs says, “My beloved child, when your heart is full of my wisdom, my heart is full of gladness”. Paul had evolved into an emotional and spiritual state where his contentment was not found in circumstances or people. Jesus offers peace to His followers in John 14:27, “I leave you my peace, I give you my peace, I do not give it to you as the world gives it.” The world attempts to rent or sell us peace, pacifiers, reassurances as merchants of happiness that calm the troubles of our days and nights for a while; but the world does not offer growing, healing, transforming peace that passes understanding. True, transforming peace and contentment flows only from God’s Holy Spirit, who lives within us. The Spirit teaches us the reality of Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. His spiritual presence will lead us beside the still waters, and restore our soul, as we walk in the good Shepherd’s Kingdom of Light. Nowhere else will it be found! This peace begins as a seed that Jesus offers us to accept. After this seed has taken root in the good soil of our heart, it will gradually grow and develop into an adorning tree of strength in our spirits, souls, and minds. As this tree grows, each bough will be pruned of branches not needed, which enables the healthy spiritual fruit of divine love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, long suffering and faith to be abundantly produced and given to those who hunger to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We will then gradually move towards the grace and beauty that the Spirit gifts the lovers of God with. Most of us do not continuously abide in this “peace that passes understanding”, for this peace is a process of becoming filled with the Holy Spirit, a life work that we allow the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to accomplish within us. It is His desire to flood us with inner strength of His Spirit, and make us self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency. At last, we are stepping forward in the Kingdom of God, on the path that leads to contentment, satisfaction, joy, and peace –where we are not overthrown by our circumstances!
“For I have learned how to be content [satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted] in whatever state I am. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation. I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]” (Philippians 4:11b, 12b, 13).See less