My husband, oldest son Kyle, and I went to the Outlets nearby. I was watching people coming in and out of stores with boys hands full of bags. There were signs on every store about the sales going on. Salesmen and women luring people in with the once in a lifetime deal.

We live in a culture where it is never enough. We think the next best thing will satisfy and it never does.

I don’t know how many times I have gotten a new shirt or pair of boots and I am giddy for a day or so but the thrill wears off.

I was thinking about contentment and my mind began to wander back to when I was a single mom. I would pray for a husband who loved me like Jesus and who would love my son. My mind and heart would focus on my loneliness and the longing for a complete family.

I thought back to the night where I sat on my bed crying and telling God that He was enough for me and confessed that if it was just the three of us for the rest of my life, I would be content with that.

Not easy words to say but it was such a powerful confession and releasing of my will and desires for God’s.

Contentment is something God has worked in me over the years. I am continually brought back to one particular scripture.

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13.

One truth that stood out in this verse was that contentment is learned.

If there are things I need to learn than God is faithful to give me opportunities to practice and He has.

This contentment is unconditional. It doesn’t matter what circumstances are going on around us or what our financial situation is.

Are you content in whatever circumstance you find yourself in?

Are you able to be content even if you are single right now?

Are you able to be content if you don’t have all the friends you want?

Are you able to be content if you are struggling financially?

Are you able to be content right where God has you?

Ask yourself these questions. I also challenge you to ask yourself if you would be able to be content if certain things or people were taken away.

These are not easy questions.

After I prayed that heartfelt prayer that night, I began focusing more on the Lord and being content in Him. Certainly not perfectly but baby steps. It was about two months later that my husband and I started dating and eighteen months later we were married.

God honors that place of obedience. It may take two months, two years, two decades and sometimes God has something different and better to give us than what we wanted in the first place.

I continue to have to work out learning to be content but I can honestly say that God is enough for me. It doesn’t mean that I would want to lose my family or not get to a better place financially. It does mean that I have learned to be content. As long as I keep my eyes on Jesus I can stay there.

I pray that you will ask yourself the hard questions this week and allow Him to be enough!