Thoughts on Contentment by Joyelle Parrish

Much from this portion of the book has encouraged and challenged my heart. Not only is the issue about living peaceably and wholeheartedly within the seemingly "lowly" realm of life, but oh, my! So many recurring themes amongst the precept of contentment struck me boldly. Joy, cheerfulness, a quiet heart, finding fulfillment in the mundane, devoting oneself to a life of servanthood and constant giving (sacrifice), discipline, peacefulness, conquering pride and pompous selfishness, humility in all aspects, ultimate duty, fervency in prayer, tranquility and graciousness, charity, friendship and patience-- not an exhaustive list by any means, but is rather a peek into the thrust of the chapter. A hundred precepts lie behind the principle and I came to realize that the author's thesis is quite obvious: If not all of these characteristics are maintained to the utmost capability and diligently upheld insofar as possible, one cannot possess true contentment. Striving to obtain righteous contentment is likely not so challenging as may seem, but if the will is weak, so much less the opportunity to be wholly joyful.

Contentment and peaceable living require much strength of character and an incredible diligence in spirit. As with joy, a contented, inner quiet results from the submission of will and circumstance to the perfect sovereignty of the Heavenly Father. And certainly, this does not stem from an intellectual capacity; Rather, it springs from within the very depths of our being and cannot be disregarded on a whim of petty happening. Nor is contentment easily lost once ingrained in the spirit. It is an acquired habit, such as prayer, thanksgiving or service. If one is prone to say, "I've lost the content of soul I possessed yesterday," it is not an overstatement to assert the lack thereof in the first place. All of this requires hard work, especially if one lives in a generally unpeaceable environment, inconducive to the development of quietness in spirit. The Lord is gracious and merciful to those who seek Him, and will grant the ability to strive toward this meekness, joy, peace and contentment. He has given the ability to learn to be content in every circumstance (Philippians 4:11, Hebrews 13:5).

Joy, contentment, peace and strength are each inextricably linked within the inner life of the Christian. I maintain that each one of these qualities are necessary to cultivating righteousness-- and certainly, a gentle, meek spirit within a woman. Peace would be the foremost characteristic, then contentment with the will and purpose of the Lord shall result from such. Joy follows a contented nature, and strength emanates out of a wholly joyful being.

Elisabeth Elliot Gren: "There is no end to spending, getting, having. We are insatiable consumers, dead set on competing, "upgrading," showing off. We simply cannot bear to miss something others deem important. So the world ruins the peace and simplicity God would give us. Contentment with what He has chosen for us goes along with Godliness. Instead of giving thanks, we wail-- and we teach our children to wail."

We are young women, unmarried, living within our father's household and are doing our utmost to cultivate a spirit of contentment and service within our homes and families. We must guard against the pervasive culture that is attempting to steal this joy. May God forbid that we would instill and produce within the next generation all of that worldliness and self-centered ideology which is running so rampantly amongst our Christian circles. It is our honor, our duty, our privilege to tear down the strongholds of this neo-postmodern society and rise to the call of Scripture. So be it in producing the fruit of contentment: for Christ, one another and our present and future families.

—This article was sent to us by reader Joyelle Parrish.