Find Contentment
"May we find contentment not in our doing, but in Your presence alone."
Psalm 27:4 (NIV)
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
In a world that often measures worth by productivity, the idea of experiencing contentment in mere presence can seem counterintuitive. We're conditioned to believe that our value lies in what we accomplish, in the tangible results of our efforts. Even in our spiritual lives, we can fall into the trap of "doing" - praying more, serving more, striving for an elusive ideal of spiritual perfection. But what if true contentment doesn’t reside in what we do but in simply being with God? What if the secret to a fulfilling life isn't in accomplishing more but in carving out moments to rest in God's presence? The heart of the Advent message invites us into a radical reorientation. It whispers of contentment that isn't earned but received, a fulfillment felt not in frantic activity but in quiet presence.
Imagine a small child sitting in their parent's lap. The child isn't doing anything productive or impressive. They're merely being held, enjoying the warmth and security of their parent's embrace. This is the kind of contentment God invites us into - a contentment that comes from knowing we are held, loved, and delighted in, not because of what we do, but because we are His.
To find contentment in God's presence is to rediscover our truest identity. It's a remembering that before we were doers, achievers, or producers, we were beloved. It's an acceptance that our worth isn't something we earn through our efforts, but something intrinsic to our being as children of God. Contentment in God's presence doesn't mean we stop doing things, but rather recognizing that our doing flows from a different place - not from a need to prove our worth or earn God's love, but from the overflow of a heart that is at rest in God's presence.
This Advent season offers us a unique opportunity to practice this kind of presence-centered living. As we wait for the celebration of Christ's birth and anticipate His eventual return, we're invited to slow down, set aside our endless to-do lists, and simply be with God - to seek His presence above all else. As we learn to find our contentment in God's presence, our perspective on life begins to shift. Things that once seemed urgently important lose their grip on us. We’re less driven by fear, comparison, or the need for approval. Instead, a deep well of peace and joy has the power to sustain us even in difficult circumstances. This contentment in God's presence is what the psalmist speaks of when he says that the one thing he seeks is to dwell in God's house, to gaze upon His beauty. It's a contentment that goes beyond fleeting happiness based on circumstances. It's a settled satisfaction of the soul that comes from knowing we are loved, we belong, and we are held securely in God's hands.
Take a moment to reread today’s Scripture passage and then spend some time reflecting on the following question:
Psalm 27:4 (NIV)
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
How might your perspective shift if you viewed your worth through the lens of God's presence rather than your own productivity?