The Question of Contentment

THIS WEEK’S BOLD STEP DEVOTION

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
(Philippians 4:12)

When my parents, Bob and Minnie, first started out as missionaries in Spain, they had very little. My siblings and I were young, and our family lived simply with just the basics, often making do with less than most of the people around us. Yet, what stood out to me, even as a child, was the joy and peace my parents carried. They didn’t rely on material things to be satisfied but leaned fully on God. That early example planted something deep within me: that true contentment doesn’t depend on circumstances but on Christ.

Paul puts it this way in our verse today: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation...” Notice Paul uses the word learned. Contentment doesn’t come naturally for most of us; rather it’s something we grow into as God teaches us through every season. Our culture constantly tells us that we need more to be happy, such as a better car, a bigger house, or a better job. However, Paul reminds us that joy doesn’t come from the “next thing.” It comes from knowing that Jesus is enough, right where we are.

Discontentment will always leave us restless and unsatisfied. But when we practice daily gratitude, stop comparing ourselves to others, and declare with confidence, “Lord, You are more than enough,” our hearts begin to experience the freedom Paul described. That’s the kind of strength Jesus gives and that is the ability to walk through every season with peace, “whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” And when we truly learn that Christ is enough, we discover a contentment the world can’t give and a peace the world can’t take away.

Bold Steps Challenge:
This week, write down three specific things you’re thankful for every day. And when discontent creeps in, pause and pray: “Jesus, you are more than enough for me.”

Prayer:
Father, thank You for showing me that real joy and peace aren’t found in what I have but in You. Teach me to live free from comparison, rooted in gratitude, and content in Your presence. Help me to trust Your strength in every circumstance. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Listen to the sermon: The Secret of Contentment

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Ministry Update from Mark

In memory of my brother in Christ, Tony Wasso.

I first met Tony and Linda Wasso back in 1985 when I was just finishing college. Tony, a converted gypsy raised on the Southwest Side of Chicago, carried a tough urban grit but also a deep passion for God and people. Even then, I could see glimpses of the calling God had placed on Tony’s life. In time, he became one of my key leaders, later answering the call to pastor at New Life Community Church in Cicero for many years. He was a spiritual father for many with a life marked by discernment, compassion, and love.

Tony’s life is a powerful reminder that we’re not called to sit on the sidelines of faith. God has uniquely gifted each of us to serve, to love, and to make a difference in the lives of others. Tony lived that out and finished well, leaving behind a legacy that will echo for generations. May his story challenge us to be faithful with the time and gifts God has entrusted to us. And please keep his beloved wife, Linda, in your prayers during this season of loss.