Are you Content?

     Contentment.  Contentment.  What does this word mean to you?  So many people are looking for contentment in their lives. We as homeschoolers look for contentment in our day to day schooling with our children. Are you content with your homeschooling? More importantly, are you content with your life?

     I must tell you that I have been both discontent and content in my homeschooling and my life.  I have looked around and decided that my life and our schooling were not what I wanted them to be.  I would constantly think, “We’re not doing enough. Look at the Smiths, their children are professional musicians and in law school and they are only 14 and 16!”  Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but you know what I mean.  Haven’t you done the “compare game” yourself?  There have also been times in my life that I thought I deserved more. I was never content or feeling blessed with what I had or where I was at in my life.  Not until I gave my life to Jesus did this whole discontent attitude change, and let me clarify this by saying it didn’t happen overnight! Jesus truly had to do a work in me!

     Phillipians 4:11-13 tells us, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.  Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”  And here’s the most important part, “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” (capitalization and underlining mine.) First, let’s remember that the Apostle Paul wrote this while in prison and he was writing about contentment!!  Isn’t this amazing? What is his secret?  It’s his belief and abiding in Christ that makes all the difference. It is his true believing in Jesus and his leaning on the promises of God that allows him to be content even in prison.

     Where are you at in your life right now?  Are you struggling with health issues, money problems, relationship problems or homeschooling issues?  Lean on Jesus!  Get on your knees and give these issues to Him – allow Him to be your strength and wisdom.  Only through our true abiding in Christ do we have contentment.  Abide in Him!

2008 Julie Danielson