Are You Content?

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. ...”

A 2019 Pew Research Center² study revealed that actively religious people in the U.S. described themselves as "very happy" 36% of the time. This means 64% of Christians reported feeling less than "very happy."

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While this statistic is better than the general population—where Gallup consistently shows less than half of Americans are "very satisfied" with their lives—it still raises a pressing question: Why are so many Christians not very happy or content?

You might wonder, Shouldn’t Christians, of all people, be content most of the time? Perhaps you’ve even asked yourself, “Why am I not as happy as I should be?”

Many people, including Christians, tie their happiness to material possessions. Yet, time and again, we see that money and possessions can’t buy the deeper joy we seek. True happiness comes from something else: the peace and contentment found in positive relationships and the assurance that God is in control.

So why isn’t this attitude more common among Christians? The answer lies in the reality of living in a broken, sinful world. As imperfect humans, our connection to God isn’t perfect.

Sometimes, envy, jealousy, pride, and life’s general struggles—whether physical pain, emotional wounds, or strained relationships—pull our focus away from God’s peace.

Satan plays a role in this as well. He doesn’t always attack as a roaring lion; instead, his attack is subtle and stealthy. At first, like the proverbial frog in a cool pot of water, everything feels fine. But before we realize it, the water is boiling. It’s too late! Our contentment is cooked. We’re overwhelmed by dissatisfaction and unhappiness.

But here’s the good news: even in this corrupt world, real contentment is possible. Yes, we can experience true happiness—not by chasing worldly things but by anchoring ourselves in God’s peace and trusting in His control.

“How?” you might ask. Let’s listen and learn from the Apostle Paul’s in Philippians 4:11-12 (NASB).

"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need."

Paul remarkably declares that he is content in whatever circumstance he finds himself in.

How is this possible? What is his “secret?”

Paul’s Secret to Contentment

How could he possibly be content? After all, just consider what he suffered.

In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul lists the numerous hardships he endured:

• · Imprisoned more frequently than most

• · Flogged severely

• · Exposed to death time and again

• · Five times received 39 lashes from the Jews

• · Three times beaten with rods

• · Once stoned

• · Three times shipwrecked

• · Spent a day and night adrift in the sea

• · Constantly on the move to avoid persecution

• · In danger from rivers, bandits, his people (Jews), and Gentiles

• · Faced threats in cities, in the countryside, and from false believers

• · Often went without food, water, and sufficient clothing

• · On top of it all, he bore the pressure of caring for the churches he planted

Whatever your challenges to being happy, they likely pale compared to Paul’s list of hardships. He had every reason to be discouraged, dissatisfied, and discontent.

Yet ... he wasn’t! How did he manage this?

And, more importantly, can we reach this same state of contentment?

Yes, we can.

One of the things, perhaps not so self-evident, is Paul’s lifestyle. He was a Scriptural scholar through his Pharisaical training in the law of God. He spent significant time in prayer and meditation. He was generous, kind, and encouraging to those around him, and he trusted God intentionally and explicitly. These are no doubt keys to his internal peace and contentment.

To have his attitude, we should imitate his lifestyle. Here are four steps to help us follow Paul’s success and focus on overcoming the challenges in our lives.