Paradoxes get us thinking. They set us back on our heels a bit while we search for possible meaning, mixing in our lives in subtle ways, and shaping the way we think. We use paradoxes in everyday life, repeating statements like “less is more” or “the more I learn the less I know” to ourselves and others. Because paradoxes take a minute to understand, they stick in our brains.
Christianity rests on powerful paradoxical truths. They shape our experience of Christ, of our Heavenly Father, and of the road of progressive sanctification we walk on. For example, Jesus taught sacrifice as a path to flourishing and productivity; “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds,” and "Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12: 24-25). The apostle Paul used the power of paradox too. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, he admonished believers to embrace struggles as essential ingredients of growth; “But God said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Truths like these help us understand what it means to follow a suffering Savior.
I’ve recently been captivated by a paradox describing how it feels to be a believer in this broken, fractured world. We live in a state of contented discontent. The term cycles through my mind as I walk with others who experience heartaches like family rifts, relational struggles, betrayal, and injustice. It accurately names the low-level angst I often feel in the day-to-day, as well as the longing for heaven that captivates my heart. Accepting contented discontent as part of my sanctification helps me sort it out and settle into my life on this horizontal plane.
Living in contented discontent requires faith in God’s unseen, almighty ways. It pushes us to depend more on him. Defining our experience of discontent, and the contentedness we can simultaneously experience, helps.
Let’s begin with our primary position. We experience discontent because:
We long for heaven. Sorrow, suffering, disease, disaster, violence, war, and a myriad of other types of brokenness remind us that this world is tainted by evil. As sinners, we understand how sin works, but our experience of it can seem overwhelming. We can’t make sense of blatant disregard for life. We long for peace. We struggle with injustice, cruelty, and incredible selfishness. There are some things we can’t fix– many struggles we can’t overcome. The reality quickly sinks in that in this world, they won’t be overcome. We feel unsettled. C. S. Lewis said, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” Jesus spoke to this feeling as well. He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world “ (John 16:33).
We never seem to be where we want to be. As we grow to become more like Christ, our awareness of our sin also grows. Sanctification takes time and effort. It’s never linear. We think we’ve killed off one kind of sin completely, only to find the weed of another growing in its place. The progress we should expect looks like three steps forward and two steps backward. There’s a net gain as the Holy Spirit continues to work in our lives, convicting and leading. It just doesn’t feel like a gain.
We don’t fit in here. Jesus didn’t fit in, and he was crucified for it. When our priorities don’t line up with those held by our neighbors or unbelieving friends, we won’t fit in either. We can be kind, helpful, and loving, but we probably won’t be popular. The apostles experienced this kind of rejection and taught us to expect it. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul calls us to be living sacrifices who are not conformed to this world. James makes the point more directly; “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God “ (James 4:4). Clearly, we shouldn’t feel too at home here.
Understanding the discontent in our lives is important. Yet angst-filled, crabby Christians don’t reflect Christ’s love well or draw others to it. To shine for him, faith must lead us to accept where we’re at and trust God in the dark places. How can we be contented in our state of discontent? We must remember:
We are never alone in this world or left without resources. God’s Word always shows us how to move forward. When biblical patterns and precepts guide our thinking, we have the wisdom we need to navigate hardships. As a lamp to our feet and light to our path (Psalm 119:105), the Bible illuminates the darkest nights of our souls. It is an incredible asset. We also have the power to talk directly to God in prayer, outlining our specific struggles and seeking his almighty intervention. When we don’t see how his ways and Word address our problems, other believers can help us apply truth. We’re never alone, forsaken, or left without direction.
We know God has placed us where we are. We never operate outside of God’s sovereign storyline for our lives. Whether we understand it or not, each issue we face carries with it an opportunity to grow. We’re not capriciously dropped into jobs, neighborhoods, or relationships. God is doing something, ultimately for our good, in each placement (Jeremiah 29:11). Accepting God’s sovereignty leads to being content through faith. Sovereignty and contentment cannot be separated.
We are never unloved or abandoned by God. Ever. The voice of anxiety says to us, “What if a terrible thing happens? What will I do then? How will I make it? How will I survive?” Considering the worst-case scenarios and what they actually mean helps. Applying faith means following those kinds of questions with a different set. If this terrible thing happens, would God still love me? Would he still have a good plan for my life? Would he still be with me and for me? Would he have abandoned me? Romans 8:38-39 assures us that nothing can separate us from the love of God, shown through Jesus Christ our Lord. Resting content in God’s love allows us to ask other questions in seasons of heartache, like what do you have for me here, Lord? What do you want me to learn? How can I grow? How can I learn to be content, even now?
Contented discontent is a reality all Christians will, at some point, experience. It’s part of denying ourselves, carrying a cross, and following Jesus. Owning and understanding it helps us sort through the pressures and pulls of a broken world, resting on the solid Rock of our salvation.
Crystal is a Christ-follower, wife, mother, counselor, and friend. She is passionate about connecting others with the truth of God's miraculous power and sustaining presence.
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