Contentment in the Middle of Loss
In the hardest seasons of my life, I've learned something important. We are called to be content, no matter how much or how little we have. It's easy to want what others have, especially when you have nothing. If we're not careful, that desire can quickly shift into coveting, where contentment slips away.
Because of the wrong choices I made in my life, I found myself homeless and feeling lost. It was a humbling and challenging experience that made me reevaluate who I was and what was important to me. I lost everything: my family, my home, my job, and eventually, my car. Mostly, I lost my sense of self. The first night I slept in my car, I cried out to God. "I need You, and I can't go on without You."
Never having been a high-income earner, I lived without many luxuries. I often coveted other people in church because they seemed to have everything at their fingertips. I felt like I was missing out, which made it hard to be content, until I lost everything. I was no longer living with covetousness, and strangely enough, I felt content with the very little I had. I kept reminding myself that God would not forsake me (Hebrews 13:5) and that He would provide what I needed.
That night, as I lay there cold with nothing but the weight of my failure and the heartache of hopelessness, those words became my lifeline. "I will never leave you nor forsake you." I knew my situation wouldn't change overnight. His promise to stay was enough to help me hold on.
At that moment, I knew God was with me right in the middle of my mess. I had nothing left to show, yet He remained with me, even after everything I had done. God didn't turn His face; He promised to stay.
Have you asked God for more, without realising what He has already provided? It's easy to look at what others have and wonder why we're left waiting. But whether it's physical or spiritual, coveting always leaves us empty. Wherever you are, whatever you've lost, know this: God hasn't left. He never will. And His presence is enough.
