One of the first classes I taught at The Bible Chapel was a class on parenting teenagers. Lori and I had two children at the time, both under the age of three. But I had been a middle school teacher, a middle school and high school coach, a youth group leader, and had read a lot of books on parenting, so I was an “expert”, or so I thought. About fifteen minutes into my introduction, I broke into a sweat. I realized I was teaching a subject way over my head. And the parents knew I was in over my head. I could see it in their faces. I was standing in front of a full classroom of parents who had teens, who were living with their teens, who were trying to raise their teens. I had never cried with a child cut from the team, walked through the dicey dating years, or consoled a child after a heartbreak. I had never dealt with a teenager sneaking out at night, pursuing inappropriate relationships, or melting down and running up the stairs sobbing over something I had said. I could go on, but my point is this—You don’t know it until you’ve experienced it. Experiencing is learning.
Philippians 4:11-13
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Don’t miss what this passage drives home—the gift of contentment is learned through experiences.
The apostle Paul’s life was not some ivory tower professorial existence spewing forth classroom theories and then retreating to his office to read another book. He lived in the real world, learning from real-life experiences. And there, he learned that God provides exactly what we need for whatever he is calling us to do. Paul learned this through experience. And so do we.
I never knew the profound despair of not having a job until a time in my life when there was no job in sight. I never knew what grief was like until my father died when I was nineteen. And I was surprised by the deep emotion of losing my mom some twenty years later. I never really understood God’s peace that passes understanding until our grandson passed from death to eternal life. I had head knowledge about reckless words piercing like a sword until a person struck me with a premeditated comment that sent me reeling. This list could go on, but you get my point.
The gift of contentment is learned through experience. So, don’t waste the experiences God puts in your life. Ask him to show you what you need to learn about him, about yourself, about others. Ask him to teach you the secret of living with a lot or with nothing. Ask him to help you experience that you can do anything with his strength. Ask him to help you live with the gift of contentment.
Lord, keep our feet grounded. Make us learners through life experience. Help us to ask this question often—Lord, what are you trying to teach me through this situation? In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Ron, once again u nailed it. I told my daughter when she was young and had been hurt that Gods comforts so we can later comfort others. We gain true empathy for others who go through what we have experienced.