Paul said, “I have learned to be content…” (Phil 4:11) This was at the end of his life. What kind of schooling did he go through to get that place of contentment? How hard were the exams? Did he fail a few or perhaps have to take the whole class again?
Contentment is not settling.
Contentment is not being the victim.
Contentment is not dismissing the promise.
Contentment is not distracting yourself from your circumstances.
Contentment is not denying reality.
Contentment is not ignoring the obvious.
Contentment is learning to trust.
Contentment is peace in the waiting.
Contentment is knowing with every knock on heaven’s door He is one more step closer to answering.
Contentment is looking above the circumstances to the bigger picture.
Contentment is resting in the place of knowing morning will come.
Contentment is knowing our God is a GOOD Father.
Learning is a process. Your attitude during the lessons will determine the quality of the outcome and how long the lesson lasts.
Taking a lesson from the Song of Songs, that book that beautifully outlines growing into Spiritual maturity, we see the Beloved Bride in chapter 5 alone, uncovered, and wounded. When the immature Believers that she had been mentoring find her she asks them to help her find the King. She says,
“Have you seen my Beloved, I am lovesick for Him?” Song of Songs 5:8
She did not focus on her mistreatment, her pain, her loss.
Then her mentees, in sincere and honest confusion ask, “How could you love Him so when He has left you and lowed this to happen to you?” What honesty!!
Then she responds in Song of Songs 5:10-16 with one of the most beautiful descriptions of the Majesty of our King in the Bible. Through her loving eyes we see His beauty, His character, her relationship with Him.
He is radiant. (dazzling pure, holy, glorious white light)
He is ruddy. (literally covered with blood as the Lamb)
He is outstanding among ten thousand. (recognizable)
His head (His sovereign leadership)
Like gold (over all is the best)
His hair (His dedication to God and the Church/His Bride)
Like black as a raven: (full of eternal youthful vigor)
His eyes: (His infinite knowledge, wisdom, understanding, discernment)
Like doves by the water streams, washed in milk, mounted like jewels (focused vision, clean and pure, bringing order)
His cheeks: (His diverse emotional makeup, His affections and beauty)
Like beds of spice yielding perfume (extravagant and various fragrance of His affections)
His lips: (His Words)
Like lilies dripping with myrrh (pure and sweet encouraging the embracing of the cross)
His arms/hands: (His divine activity)
Like are rods of gold set with chrysolite
(designed, purposeful, valuable and beautiful activity)
His body: (His tender compassion)
Like polished ivory decorated with sapphires
(rare and beautiful decorated with love)
His legs: (His walk and administration of His purposes)
Like pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold (strength, orderliness and valuable)
His appearance/countenance: (His face is an impartation to His people)
Like Lebanon, choice as its cedars
(stately, honorable, majestic, strong, fragrant)
His mouth: (Intimacy with Him) is sweetness
He’s altogether lovely: (His comprehensive beauty)
He is my Beloved and my Friend (She is filled with love for Him)
In other words, this is why I love Him.
This is why I can be content.
I can be content in our love.
I would like to share with you a song from Laura Hackett Park “You Satisfy My Soul” that says it all while we are in the season of learning to be content.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8nhtOy8UaI
– A Devotion from my Song of Songs Love Story
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