True Contentment

Whenever a friend succeeds,” Gore Vidal once said, ”a little something in me dies.” The words are sad, because a life lived in envy leaves little room for joy. But don’t Vidal’s words reflect our own feelings at times?

Every person who longs to be married knows that sinking feeling when yet another friend becomes engaged. Every childless couple feels a stab of grief when yet another pregnancy is announced. Every sick person who has prayed for healing feels the confusion when hearing another’s miraculous testimony of being healed. Why them and not me, God? we whisper inside, as we put on our smiles and hide our sadness. The apostle Paul tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15), but when others get what we’ve been denied it can feel like something in us has died.

“I have learned how to be content with whatever I have,” Paul said (Philippians 4:11). In this case, he was talking about food and finances (Philippians 4:12), but we can read his sentiment more broadly. Paul was single (1 Corinthians 7:7), he’d been denied healing (2 Corinthians 12:7-9), and had often lacked safety, shelter, and sleep (2 Corinthians 11:23-29). Yet he could say his weaknesses were his strength (2 Corinthians 12:10). How?

Paul revealed his secret to the Philippians: “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). He faced sickness, singleness, loneliness, and sleeplessness by drawing all he needed from Jesus who dwelt within him. The most contented people I know have discovered this secret for themselves. Their enjoyment of God overshadows any loss they’ve known.

“Whenever a friend succeeds,” I want to be able to say, “a little something in me lives.” May our empty spaces be filled with Jesus today.

Taken from “Our Daily Journey”