“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” – Paul – Philippians 4:12
“Hey!! How about a cheap frozen Pizza tonight?” The words came out of my mouth after Katie asked what we could eat for dinner. We usually eat something quick and cheap on Sunday nights… so $5.50 and hour later, the oven was pre-heating. 8 minutes into a 10 minute process, I began making adjustments because the pizza wasn’t looking like it would meet my expectations!
Our oven runs hot, so instead of 425, I set it to 415. Under the oven light, the pizza was looking under-done. So I cranked the heat up a little. A minute later, I turned it off completely because it was too brown around the edges. Pulling it out after 12 minutes, it was what it was! DONE! Half the pizza was over-cooked, half was under-cooked. But being hungry, we ate it with contentment!
While writing this, my phone went off with an urgent text telling me that Tropical Storm Ian, which was SUPPOSED to turn away from us, had made an adjustment in the night and now MAY actually strengthen and hit us! His text came from anxiousness because, while he has a house here, he’s actually 5 states away! I’ve learned that anxious pre-storm calls are more predictable than weather!
If you’ve lived in Florida for as long as I have, you have lived through MANY storm warnings. And if the media and retailers have learned anything, it’s that ‘fear sells!’ Preying on those who fear is profitable because of what I call ‘The Contentment Factor!’ People don’t like unpredictable, uncomfortable situations and will spend lots of money to acquire just a small shot at contentment!
Today’s verse rests right in the middle of a list of experienced variables. From good to bad, Paul had seen them all. Through him, God is trying to warn and teach us that there are 2 possible directions from which contentment can arrive. From the outside or inside. God goes to extreme measures to prepare us to choose HIS REAL contentment, which ONLY comes from Him and from the inside.
Adjusting the oven and fiddling with externals may change the look of a pizza, but if contentment is determined by meeting external expectations, then disappointment and anxiousness are guaranteed! Like Paul, I have learned that preparing for the worst, expecting the least, and trusting GOD to meet my needs no matter what, is the key to being truly content. Weather forecasts do not even faze me!
Have YOU, like Paul, learned ‘the secret to being truly content in every situation?’ Because there WILL be tests!
F.A.I.T.H. – Fear Ain’t In This House!
