The Weekend In Review- Contemplations for Contentment

By: Caleb Walden


There’s the problem that I've noticed in my heart that I want to share wiht you. My problem is I am overwhelmingly blessed but most of the time I don’t feel like it.. I am overwhelmingly blessed but my thoughts and feelings are overwhelmed by what I don’t have. And I think most of you are with me...YOU are overwhelmingly blessed But most of the time you don’t feel like it.

And our problem reminds me of this rule called the 80/20 rule. It all started in the 1900s when this Italian economist noticed that 20% of the plants in his garden were responsible for 80% of the harvest. So the minority of his plants gave him the majority of his harvest. And then the Italian economist took what he saw in his garden into his field of work.. And he noticed that 80% of the wealth in Italy was Held by 20% of the population. So the minority of the population held the majority of the wealth. And this rule basically states that sometimes 20% of something leads to 80% of a result.

But I see this 80/20 rule illustrating this truth.. That we are overwhelmingly blessed but we don’t feel like it. Because 80 percent is pretty good but the 20% that isn’t good takes up 80% of our thoughts and feelings. The majority of our lives are blessed, but the minority that isn’t the few things that go wrong.. Or hurt.. Or fail.. Those take up most of our thoughts and feelings..

So, here is the question I want us to think about today. How can we be content? And that word content just means satisfied.. At peace with reality.. So really we are asking the question.. How can we be content when we are overwhelmingly blessed. But also how can we be content even when it feels like life is throwing it’s best punches at us and the negative all comes at once?

Here is one practical step you can take to learn how to find contentment:

Practice Thanking God daily. Here’s your Thanksgiving challenge. Set an Alarm at 11:25 for the next week. Set a timer on your phone and practice thanking God daily.

There is this old hymn called "Count Your Blessings."

"Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."

And that’s your homework for the week... I want you everyday.. To set an alarm and take a minute or two everyday for one week.. To count your blessings.. And to thank God for them..

Why? Because the negative weighs heavy in our lives. The 20% that goes wrong feels heavier than our blessings.

But you can find contentment by:

- Counting the blessings of God’s constant presence..

- Count the blessings God has faithfully provided..

- Count the blessings that God’s providence brought to you..

Contentment is found not in answering “How” but by rejoicing in “Who” God is. Count the blessings you have in God.

So that’s your homework for this week.. Everyday.. Set a timer at 11:25 and spend a few minutes rejoice in WHO god is.. Because it leads to contentment. 

Caleb Walden is a Youth Pastor in our Youth Department here at Shepherd Church.