The Struggle for Contentment

Have you ever been in God's will; and yet, at times, wish you weren't? Yeah, me, too, once in awhile. In fact, I've been hovering in and out of that inane mindset for a couple of decades. I love the kids I teach. (Shhh, don't tell them they're still kids.) I love loving the kids I teach. When it happens, I love being loved by the kids I teach. I love teaching! The problem: I have very little use for education. Its standards, practices, and values are decidedly headed in the wrong direction in many areas--from my perspective. More and more Christian education tries to prove its worth by imitating the mindset and methods of public education. Now, being decidedly human, my "vision" is undoubtedly flawed in places, but I perceive those trends as real; and thus, I, at times, in my pride, struggle with contentment in the place that God has called me to serve.
Yet, on the other hand, I see, in at least some small ways, that God is using me on a daily basis. He is certainly still teaching me many things and continuing to prune away those things that get in the way of His ability to bear fruit through this old branch. And as I continue to abide--to rest--in His Word and to submit to His Spirit, He is able to do His transforming work despite my struggles in the place He has called me to. He continues to surprise me by allowing me to touch the lives of students and adults.
The question is what to do in those times when God graciously continues to perform His work of godliness in your life, but you yourself are struggling with the contentment necessary to make you rich toward Him--to make you a recipient of great gain? I have found several things vital to my walk with Him in such times.
The greatest thing is the absolute reliance on Him that becomes an absolute necessity for me in order to be what He has called me to be. I have found so uplifting the truth that His grace is all-sufficient--that at my weakest moments He empowers me beyond my ability or desire. When I struggle with even the desire to be faithful, He remains faithful to me. He energizes me through each day.
I have also come to rely on the great power of encouragement. (And to practice it daily I pray.) The steady love of my friends, the love of my students, a word of encouragement from others, a gentle touch of thank you, all those things remind me of His ever-present love. And though some may see that as another weakness and perhaps, even selfishness on my part, I have come to rely on encouragement as a way in which He meets with me every day. It is, certainly, a weakness, but a weakness that has engendered in me the strength I need for each and every day.
I have also found that when I am struggling with contentment that our enemy likes to "pour it on." You would think that after all these centuries that he would have learned that "pouring it on" just sends the child scurrying for the arms of His Father. When things appear out of control, I am more likely to talk--complain--to Abba; and thus, the lines of communication are opened wide, and I become more sensitive to His leading and direction. I am not saying that I enjoy the "pouring on," but that when the winds of adversity increase, I must rely on the eagle's wings of faith that He has given me and without even realizing it, I find myself soaring. Consequently, He enables me to please Him by causing me to live by faith in His eternal, ever-present love for me. I more deeply sense His love for me in the turmoil of the storm.
Finally, I must continue to remind myself--constantly--that the things I know to be true about God are indeed true even if I am feeling that they are not. I must always continue to testify to the right things about God. Always! I must always express my thankfulness to Him for all He has done for me, all He has done through me, and all the patience He constantly shows me as I struggle to become more and more like Him.
Yes, godliness with contentment is great gain! And it is something that I must continue to learn through a variety of circumstances and struggles. The more deeply He makes that truth real to me, the more assuredly I will rest in the promise that I can do all things only through Him, and that He alone, not just can--but abundantly will--supply all my need according to His infinite riches that are mine through my Savior's love. And as I learn how difficult life is when I fail to be content in the place where He would have me serve, the more lovingly, patiently, and kindly, He keeps reminding how marvelous that truth can be: Godliness with contentment is great gain!