To be content means: to be in a state of peaceful happiness.
To be peaceful is to be free from disturbance · serene · calm · tranquil · at peace · at rest · at ease · undisturbed · untroubled · unworried · unruffled · anxiety-free · content · blissful · secure
“That would be lovely,” you say. “If only my life was so tranquil.”
The reality is most of us live in a world of disturbances, trouble, worry and chaos. So how do we have inward peace during the raging storm?
One great practice is to stop yourself and notice what you are thinking about. Are you ruminating only on the trouble or ugly circumstances in your life? Or are you able to quiet the storm of chaotic thinking and rationally take one thing at a time to think through? As you take each thought and determine whether it is true or whether irrational thinking is dominating it, you then can take each thought to Jesus. Give your thoughts to him and let the peace that comes only from God start quieting your mind during these troubled circumstances.
AND BE THANKFUL!
This is the answer to an anxious and discontent spirit. Always be thankful!
Even if your circumstances are so dark right now that you can hardly lift your head, find one little thing to be thankful for. Maybe it is the fact that you can see the blooms of spring. It might be that you feel the warmth of the sun on your face. Or it may be the sound of rain on the window. Think of your five senses (or just one) and let them help you find something to be grateful for. What do you hear, see, smell, taste, or feel?
Perhaps today you can barely think of one thing through the fog or darkness. But I challenge you to continue to add to your list of thankfulness daily. Write them down. Go back and read them when you find life too chaotic to think.