Contentment in Every Season

When my firstborn started communicating verbally, one word that she found to serve her very well was “more.” For the longest time, she used it at mealtime to let us know she was still hungry. But then she learned she could also request some extra piggyback rides, a longer bath time, or extra books at bedtime . . . and she could never get enough. She was recognizing for the first time what many of us know all too well: that desire for more. 

This desire often produces a heart of discontentment—searching for satisfaction in earthly pleasures and pursuits. But, like my daughter, we will never be satisfied. The things of this world pale in comparison to the capacity our souls hold to rest in the knowledge, love, and enjoyment of God. 

When we, as Christian moms, struggle to pursue godly contentment, we can turn to the wisdom of Psalm 16:5-6: “Lord, You are my portion and my cup of blessing; You hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” Here, we learn how to treasure, trust, and turn to God in every season.

1. Treasuring God 

The term “portion” is often used in Scripture to identify one’s inheritance, whether given land or livestock or wealth. The psalmist here, David, was the youngest of his siblings and, therefore, likely expected little to no inheritance from his family. Yet, his joy remained secure because he rested in the assurance that God was his portion, his deepest fulfillment. Just a few verses earlier, in Psalm 16:2, David writes that “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” 

Do we live with that same conclusion? Is God the center of our satisfaction?

When God is our supreme treasure, we spend time enjoying him. And what better way to enjoy him than by spending time learning about who he is and what he has done for his people in the pages of his Word? Read about him. Learn about him. Sing about him. Meditate on truths about him. Share and talk about him. Keeping his Word fresh in our hearts and minds helps us to treasure and behold the wonders of God. 

If you find yourself in a season of discontentment, perhaps consider “How can I treasure God more?” and “What else am I using my time to enjoy instead?” Remember that everything we could ever need is ultimately found in him: “No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). 

2. Trusting in God’s Sovereignty 

The term “lines” in Psalm 16 refers to lot lines. If you think about your house and your neighbor's, your land is designated by lot lines. David is giving us a picture of God designating us to particular times and seasons. He has chosen where the boundaries fall for each of us. 

The place that you live, the people you have met, the jobs you’ve held, the children you have, the seasons you’ve walked through—God is sovereign over every choice and circumstance that has led you to where you are today. 

When we believe that God is purposeful and intentional with the places he has us, we can trust his hand. Even when we feel frustrated by our limitations, even when we don’t get what we want, even when we walk through unimaginable suffering and can’t understand how God could use our situation for anything good—we can trust that God is in control. We have a limited view, but he sees the bigger picture. 

Charles Spurgeon—who faced dark bouts of depression and many other tragedies—said, “God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.” 

Maybe we feel like we went from seemingly wide-open meadows to a tight-gated pasture. Maybe another mom’s lot lines look a lot better than ours. But when we trust that God is sovereign, we can find comfort in knowing he intentionally limits us for our good and his glory. He protects us from moving outside of our most necessary roles and responsibilities. He keeps us from wandering and running away from the joy that can be found right where we are. He takes advantage of every opportunity to bring us to trust him more. Close to him, we can remain faithful to the places he has called us. 

3. Turning Our Eyes to Eternity 

The last way this passage encourages us to pursue godly contentment is by turning our eyes to eternity. Psalm 16 undergirds treasuring and trusting God with the secured hope of eternity with him. 

The language here is confident: “You are . . . You hold . . . I have . . . ” Christians have this confidence through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As 1 Peter 1:3-5 says, “He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” 

That inheritance—which we are invited into by the true Son and Heir—is the summation of all of God’s promises to his people. In Christ, we gain full access to God’s presence now and forever in heaven. 

This world was never meant to satisfy our longings or offer us lasting stability. We simply cannot find contentment in anything other than God. When we keep our gaze fixed on eternal things, we can hold all of our wants and desires loosely. The truth of eternity with God reminds us that there are more and better things to come for God’s people. This is not all there is!

We can pursue godly contentment by storing up eternal treasures. We can weigh every choice and decision with eternal perspective to help diminish our earthly cravings. We can ask questions like: “Will this matter 5,000 years from now?” Will it matter that we didn’t curate our home with Pinterest-worthy designs? Will it matter that we never lost those ten extra pounds? Will it matter that we couldn’t take those extravagant trips? In 5,000 years . . . it won’t. 

But it will matter that we spent time in God’s Word. It will matter that we shared the gospel with our neighbors. It will matter that we trained up our children in the ways of the Lord. It will matter that we generously gave time and resources to the building up of the local church. It will matter that we faithfully served and poured out in the places God called us to. 

When our eyes are fixed on eternity, it becomes increasingly harder to dwell on the things we don’t have in this world. God gives us everything we could ever need in himself. Resting in his care and promises, we find true and lasting contentment.