What Does "Content" Even Mean?
Just a few nights ago, my wife asked me when I feel the most content. I had to ponder that question because it’s not something I think about very often. What does “content” even mean?
According to the Oxford dictionary, being content means to be in a state of peaceful happiness. Wow. To be content, one must be at peace, while simultaneously being happy. That sounds great! I wish I could be content at all times! Or do I? I really had to ask myself - when am I happy, when am I at peace, and when am I both?
JOURNAL: When am I most content?
My response: “I’m most content when we have spent the whole day with Maeve (our daughter), and she has played so hard that she has fallen asleep and been put to bed; and you and I are snuggled up together on the couch, watching a show we both like, with warm lights surrounding us.” Within that scenario, I am experiencing both peace and happiness.
After I answered her, I really began to think about what it means to be peaceful and happy. You can be at peace without being happy, and you can be happy without being at peace. The reason is that happiness is an emotion. It’s an outward expression. Peace, like joy, is an inward feeling. I would even argue that with God, peace and joy are a state of being. Being content is just the combination of two positive things happening at the same time.
So if happiness, being an emotion, is more than likely going to come and go, does that mean peace will too? Well, probably. Life has a lot of moving parts. There are potentially a lot of things that are going to try to take away our peace. But guess what? Jesus has an answer. It’s Him.
The Bible talks a lot about peace. 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Psalm 29:11 says, "The Lord gives strength to his people, and the Lord blesses his people with peace." Matthew 5:9 says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."
One of my personal favorites is Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Whether it’s happiness, unhappiness, peace, or conflict, go to the Lord.
The Lord is the reason I have my family. He’s the reason we have been able to work through issues. He’s the reason we are able to have a loving relationship with our daughter. He’s the reason we can come home after a crazy day and be at peace with each other and take delight in each other as we snuggle up together on the couch, watching a show we both like, with warm lights surrounding us. Sometimes I just want to say “thank you.” Thank you, God, for all that you give us and allow us to experience.
PRAYER:: Ask Jesus to show you what it means to truly have peace. Ask Him to give you joy in all that you do.
According to the Oxford dictionary, being content means to be in a state of peaceful happiness. Wow. To be content, one must be at peace, while simultaneously being happy. That sounds great! I wish I could be content at all times! Or do I? I really had to ask myself - when am I happy, when am I at peace, and when am I both?
JOURNAL: When am I most content?
My response: “I’m most content when we have spent the whole day with Maeve (our daughter), and she has played so hard that she has fallen asleep and been put to bed; and you and I are snuggled up together on the couch, watching a show we both like, with warm lights surrounding us.” Within that scenario, I am experiencing both peace and happiness.
After I answered her, I really began to think about what it means to be peaceful and happy. You can be at peace without being happy, and you can be happy without being at peace. The reason is that happiness is an emotion. It’s an outward expression. Peace, like joy, is an inward feeling. I would even argue that with God, peace and joy are a state of being. Being content is just the combination of two positive things happening at the same time.
So if happiness, being an emotion, is more than likely going to come and go, does that mean peace will too? Well, probably. Life has a lot of moving parts. There are potentially a lot of things that are going to try to take away our peace. But guess what? Jesus has an answer. It’s Him.
The Bible talks a lot about peace. 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Psalm 29:11 says, "The Lord gives strength to his people, and the Lord blesses his people with peace." Matthew 5:9 says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."
One of my personal favorites is Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Whether it’s happiness, unhappiness, peace, or conflict, go to the Lord.
The Lord is the reason I have my family. He’s the reason we have been able to work through issues. He’s the reason we are able to have a loving relationship with our daughter. He’s the reason we can come home after a crazy day and be at peace with each other and take delight in each other as we snuggle up together on the couch, watching a show we both like, with warm lights surrounding us. Sometimes I just want to say “thank you.” Thank you, God, for all that you give us and allow us to experience.
PRAYER:: Ask Jesus to show you what it means to truly have peace. Ask Him to give you joy in all that you do.
1 Comment
These devotionals are a major part of my armor against falling short. Always a rich share that makes my day better. Thank you all