Contentment

Contentment
Philippians 4:4-13 “… I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11
How in the world can Paul say that: “content whatever the circumstances”? It’s not hard at all to be content when everything is going our way, but what about those days when it all seems to fall apart? Must we mouth words about contentment then too?
Does it mean that I must be satisfied to be a cancer patient? Does it mean that I must like major surgery? Must I welcome those haunting moments of radiation therapy? Does it mean that I must, as some say, praise God FOR all things?
No, I don’t like cancer. And I don’t like being a patient. And I don’t like all the uncertainty and anxiety it involves. And I don’t like those days of weakness and sickness.
But I have a real contentment. It’s not the kind of contentment that requires that I like my present circumstances. But Christ dwells within me, and with His strength within there is no enemy we can’t face, no circumstances we can’t master, no valley we can’t walk together. It’s the deep-seated assurance that there is no circumstance I can’t face because of His power within me. That’s real contentment.