Do You Know the Secret to a Contented Soul?
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Seeking Contentment
Do you long for inner peace apart from all the turmoil in the world? Would you like to find a place of contentment? How can a person pursue such an elusive state of being?
People have sought peace of mind and contentment of soul since the beginning of humanity. Various religions, philosophies, and psychologies claim to offer ways of finding contentment and peace, yet the pursuit continues.
This pursuit intensifies during times of personal crises, external conflicts, and increased tensions. But there's no prescription anyone can offer that measures up to what God offers.
When I was a young pastor, a man from our church asked me to pray for his wife, who had a mysterious, lingering illness. Her husband brought her to several doctors, and she took many tests, but no cause was found for her sickness.
I brought a few men with me to pray for her. We took turns praying with all the faith we could muster, but no miraculous healing happened. Prompted by God’s Spirit, I spoke of the debilitating effect of resentment, disappointment, and unforgiveness.
We all went home hoping for the best but not sensing any change in the woman's condition. But the next morning her husband called to tell of her full recovery!
When she let go of unforgiveness in her heart, God set her free. Forgiveness was the key to this woman's restoration of health. She humbled herself and God honored it.
Scripture
A song for going up to worship.
O Lord, out of the depths I call to you.
O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be open to my pleas for mercy.
O Lord, who would be able to stand if you kept a record of sins?
But with you there is forgiveness so that you can be feared. [vss 1-4]
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and with hope I wait for his word.
My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
O Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
because with the Lord there is mercy and with him there is unlimited forgiveness.
He will rescue Israel from all its sins. [vss 5-8]
(Psalm 130:1-8 GW) [Context– Psalm 130]
A song for going up to worship.
O Lord, my heart is not conceited. My eyes do not look down on others.
I am not involved in things too big or too difficult for me.
Instead, I have kept my soul calm and quiet.
My soul is content as a weaned child is content in its mother’s arms.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord now and forever. [vss 1-3]
(Psalm 131:1-3 GW) [Context– Psalm 131]
Reflections and Insights
These two psalms remind us that the keys to contentment within our souls are humility, a sure hope, and a heart set free by forgiveness. Humbling ourselves in complete trust in God—knowing we need His mercy and that He is our hope—opens the door for restoration.
The psalmist calls to the Lord “out of the depths.” He was in a place of dark difficulty and knew his first step was to seek God. He also acknowledged his need for forgiveness, aware of the Lord’s great sovereignty and power.
Then the psalmist “waits” for the Lord with anticipation of the Lord answering his prayer. Waiting on the Lord is an active trust. It’s not passive, but a confident hope anchored in God. For the Lord alone is the source of unlimited mercy and forgiveness.
The second psalm begins where the previous one ends. The psalmist declares his attitude of humility before God. He knows his trust needs to be fully in the Lord, not in himself.
In this state of active trust—waiting on the Lord—he finds inner calmness and contentment. He likens this inner rest to a young child nestled in their mother’s arms. A place of acceptance and belonging in the mother’s love, and an internal peace and confidence.
After the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem, Jeremiah, known as “the weeping prophet,” declared his confident hope in the Lord—
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” (Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV)
When we look to the Lord with full confidence and trust, we have the assurance of His mercy and unlimited forgiveness. Our contentment will be like that of a child at rest in the arms of its mother.
Reflection—
When you cry out to God in prayer or worship, are you confident He hears you? Trust in the Lord, wait upon Him as your sure hope and receive true peace and contentment because of His mercy and forgiveness.
Prayer Focus—
When it seems your life is “in the depths” of great difficulty, call out to the Lord. If you lack confidence that He will hear you, ask Him for faith to believe, then trust Him as a young child trusts in their parents for love and acceptance.
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