The Content Wife

I wrestled with this title a bit because I thought, is there really such a wife? 🙂 Well, if I’m reading my Bible and applying it to my life, then I do believe it is possible to be a woman of contentment.

My man and I were talking the other day about our current trials.  Looking back, we were trying to figure out how many years we have been living through this specific financial storm.  From the electricity being turned off to losing our home.  Then no work which resulted in no money to pay for rent. Then living with friends, and so on…You get the picture, downright difficult stuff to live through.

“It’s been almost 7 years, I told him.”  And then we both smiled because we realized the significance of this.  (Famines and droughts recorded in the Bible were often 7 years long.)  I could only hope our hardship was just about over.  But in all honesty, there was another period in my, like a decade, where I thought, “If only I were healthy, then contentment would find me.”  And so, I’ve had this never-ending battle with hoping my circumstances would change so I could become content.  But God’s taught me a lot about being a content wife over these last 15 years, and the key issue is this…it’s not about your circumstances.  It’s not about your man, your home, your finances, or yourself.  It’s about how you’re living for Jesus Christ.

The other day I was reading about the Israelites and how their journey into the Promised Land would have only taken 11 days, but they decided to wander in the wilderness for a good 40 years instead.  Perhaps they liked the food?  Why, who wouldn’t want to eat manna every day? (note my sarcasm.)

Well, all of the Israelites grumbling and complainings got them nowhere, in fact, the majority of them didn’t even get to enter into the land.  And this got me to thinking about how am I handling my ‘wilderness moments’?

Am I full of faith like Caleb and Joshua?  Or am I bitter and discontent like the rest of the Israelites?  Quite frankly, sometimes I’m both, but I’m working on becoming a more content wife. 🙂 Trials won’t ever go away while we’re living here on earth.  They will always be a part of our lives.

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

It’s how we handle our circumstances that will make the difference in our hearts.  We can either be bitter or better.  I want to choose better, but I’ve learned that better does not always mean easier for my flesh!

So here are a few things I have done to guard my heart against discontentment.

I’ve tried to surround myself with positive friends.  Friends that will pray for me and friends that are seeking to be content in their situations.

I’ll remove myself from friends that just bring me down.  Many times I’ve had to walk away from conversations that were centered on griping and complaining.  I learned that these conversations caused me to turn inward and become bitter over my situation.

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”  1 Cor. 15:33

I try not to make life about me and my wants because when I focus on me, I just become more discontent.  I see the small house I live in.  The extra weight I’ve gained.  How I’m losing my hair.  Or I could find something that irritates me about my husband.  But when I focus on Christ, this is where I get my strength and joy-which ultimately leads to a content heart.

God knows the plans for your life and mine.  He knows what trials we need to go through to refine us.  And believe it or not, He has a special purpose for all that you’re going through.  He’ll use your mess to bring a beautiful message of His love, grace, and redemption to a world that needs to see it.  And He’ll use you for this!  But sometimes we forget all of this, and we feel He has forsaken us in our situation.  But He hasn’t.  He’s with us.  He’s causing our faith to grow stronger.  He’s molding us into women who rely on His Truth rather than women who rely on our emotions when faced with hard times.

I love what the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:12:

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.

A wife doesn’t become content based on her circumstances because we all know that life doesn’t stay the same.  And even if things did stay the same we’d still mumble and complain over how mundane things are!

I have learned when my soul is anchored on God and not on my circumstances; then I become a content wife.  And when I seek to glorify God with my life by surrendering to His will instead of mine, then contentment naturally spills from my heart.

Here’s a quick recipe for contentment:

Rejoice always,

Pray without ceasing,

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  1 Thess. 5:16-18

Do whatever it takes to feast on contentment today because this is a pursuit you’ll never regret!

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.  1 Timothy 6:6-8

Join me here next Tuesday for another wife in this series.

Other posts in Becoming a Christ-Centered Wife series:

#1 The Content Wife

#2 The Confident Wife

#3 The Wife Who Bases Her Life on the Bible rather than Her Emotions

Live a poured out life for Christ,

Jolene Engle