{"id":3252,"date":"2025-01-15T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nancylucenay.com\/staging\/8869\/?p=3252"},"modified":"2025-09-07T15:08:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-07T19:08:33","slug":"keys-to-increase-contentment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nancylucenay.com\/staging\/8869\/keys-to-increase-contentment\/","title":{"rendered":"Rachel ~ Keys to Increase Contentment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"derailed<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cMom, I have a brain tumor\u201d\u2014words guaranteed to cause a parent\u2019s heart to skip several beats. How can anyone be content in the face of such dark and devastating news from a loved one? Two weeks after my friend and fellow pastor\u2019s wife, Nancy Wilson, turned in the manuscript for her book Learning Contentment<\/a><\/em>, her son shared his diagnosis with her. His brain surgery and the release of her book would occur on the same day. As Nancy sees it, God\u2019s timing is impeccable. Since he doesn\u2019t tolerate hypocrites, he gave her an opportunity to practice what she preaches. With his help, she increased her contentment by refusing to let discontent derail her peace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The evil one uses every available means to tempt us to dissatisfaction. Our temptations may come through physical, financial, or family issues. By focusing on someone else\u2019s apparent success or blessings, I fail to appreciate God\u2019s gifts to me. I long to control my circumstances, thinking I could eliminate my struggles if only I could reform other people or rearrange my situation. Have you been there? Our imaginations deceive us. To find contentment, we must surrender control and submit to God\u2019s wisdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike my friend, who is committed to contentment, I sometimes identify with Jacob\u2019s wife, Rachel, who allowed discontent to steal her joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Shaky Start<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By the time Rachel reached marriageable age, Scripture reports she \u201chad a lovely figure and was beautiful\u201d (Genesis 29:17<\/a> NIV). She seemed to have bested her older sister, Leah, in the honor competition since the biblical author described Leah as having \u201cweak eyes.\u201d Smitten by Rachel\u2019s beauty, Jacob agreed to work seven years for her hand. But the sisters\u2019 father tricked Jacob into marrying Leah first, requiring Jacob to work another seven years for Rachel. Although enraged at his father-in-law\u2019s deception, Jacob agreed. Was Rachel privy to the plan? Did she agree? Some rabbis think so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Leah\u2019s wedding week concluded, Jacob married Rachel, the love of his life. She expected her contentment to increase with marital bliss and the birth of many babies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discontent Derails Rachel\u2019s Contentment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless\u201d (Genesis 29:31<\/a> NIV). Rachel may have won Jacob\u2019s heart, but Leah won the child-bearing contest by giving Jacob four sons. Overwhelmed with discontent, Rachel demanded of Jacob, \u201cGive me children, or I\u2019ll die!\u201d (Genesis 30:1<\/a> NIV). Unlike Hannah<\/a>, who handled her infertility with grace and prayer, Rachel felt entitled to motherhood. Being the favorite wife wasn’t enough; she thought contentment depended on having everything she wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After about ten years, God enabled Rachel to conceive, which removed the shame of her barrenness. Birthing a son brought Rachel honor but not contentment. She named her baby Joseph (meaning \u201cmay he add\u201d), saying, \u201cMay the Lord add to me another son\u201d (Genesis 30:24<\/a> NIV). Rather than bringing fulfillment, the birth stoked Rachel\u2019s appetite. She couldn\u2019t be grateful for or enjoy God\u2019s gift because she wanted more. I\u2019ve been guilty of such greed. Have you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discontent defined and defiled Rachel\u2019s heart and led to her death. Her demand became her destiny\u2014she died giving birth to her second son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keys to Increase Contentment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like Rachel, many of us struggle to be at peace with what, where, who, or how we are. Our discontent results from searching for contentment in the wrong places\u2014possessions, achievements, appearance, circumstances, relationships, or feelings. No matter how much we have, it\u2019s not enough. How can we increase our level of contentment? <\/p>\n\n\n\n