Hello ,
My newsletter this week is titled Contentment.
I’m laughing as I’m writing it but I’m also not laughing at the same time.
I used to brag—let me say this—and even the fact that I used to brag about it means that I wasn’t humble enough to understand that when you brag and say, I’m a very content person, that actually means you are not content.
So let me say it again: I used to brag and say to my husband, “Oh, I’m a very content person. I’m very content with the things that I have.” This weekend, I realized that the fact I was bragging about it meant that my heart was actually not in the right place.
I learned there’s a thin line. See, I’m one person that’s always pushing to be better. But pushing to be better means you’re not content with the place you are, so you’re always aiming to be a better person. However, when it comes to material things, pushing to be better can also mean you don’t even realize that what you have is already good. It can start to show up as ingratitude, which means you’re not content, you’re just pushing to be better.
There’s a thin line between being content with where you are and settling for less. I’m not saying settle for less. I’m saying you have to learn to be grateful for the place you are in, to recognize when it’s okay to rest and not push.
This weekend taught me that lesson.
I was away with my three daughters for someone’s birthday. We stayed three days, but on the last day the hotel we had booked was fully booked. They didn’t have space for us. I had been praying to God for space so we wouldn’t have to switch hotels.
The night before, I was worried. And that was the beginning of my problem. I like to control things so much that when they move out of alignment, it affects my mood. My joy is tied to everything going as planned, and when it doesn’t, I spiral.
The receptionist told me to try and book something else. I thought about it but decided to walk by faith and not book, hoping in the morning they’d extend our stay. In the morning, I woke the girls like normal, acting like everything was fine, but in my head I was also thinking, Maybe God wants us to find somewhere else.
The hotel we were in was nice… very nice actually but I started looking for problems. And thinking maybe there’s a better option. That was the beginning of my lack of contentment. I started looking for problems where there were none.
I found another hotel with a water park, checked the reviews, thought it was great, and decided to book it. Just as I was about to click Book, the hotel we were staying in called. They had found space for us, same hotel, but a different room. Everything for the birthday weekend was tied to that location.
Still, pridefully, I said, “No worries, we’ll check out.” I moved us to the other hotel. The moment I walked into that room, I knew it was a mistake. Let’s just say it was the horrible of the horriblest.
The point is contentment is key.
Why did I start looking for problems where there were none?
I always share stories in my newsletters because I want people to understand that I learn from my own mistakes. And this weekend’s lesson was clear: to have contentment, you must actually be content.
There’s a scripture—1 Timothy 6:6—that says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” You can’t just be Godly and not appreciate what God has given you. This weekend I realized I was trusting God to show up for me, but I was not content where I was. I was looking for something else.
The Bible also speaks about the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—nine fruits in total. Today I told myself, contentment equals thanksgiving. Contentment is like the 10th fruit of the Spirit—because to be content, you have to be thankful.
If I’m moody, I’m not being content with what God is doing in my life. If I’m impatient or ungrateful, I’m not being content.
Contentment doesn’t mean you stop dreaming or refuse to change. It means you choose to be thankful where you are, trusting God for what’s next without grumbling about what’s now.
This weekend, I should have been thankful that they found a space for us and stayed where God had placed me, instead of searching for problems and moving myself out of His provision.
So I’ll ask you:
What are the things in your life that you’re grumbling about, that others are praying for?
Godliness with contentment is great gain. It’s not just a nice verse, it’s the key to the next season of your life. The moment you see yourself losing love, joy, peace, patience, check your heart. You might just be stepping out of contentment.
This is my lesson, and I’m asking God to help me live it daily.
Take care,
Olamidotun.
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Affirmation for the week
“I am thankful for where
God has placed me today.
My joy is not tied to circumstances
but to God’s presence.
I choose gratitude over grumbling.
I trust God’s timing and provision
for my next season.
I can rest in the blessings
I already have.
I release the need to control
and receive God’s peace.”
Word Of The Week
1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV)
”But Godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Recommendation
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