Real Life Q&A with Camy Tang

November 2004

Q: How can God ask me to "be content" when my parents/teachers/siblings/friends/family/home/work/life totally sucks?

A: I struggle with this one a lot. I remember people at church quoting to me Philippians 4:12-13, where Paul says, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

Oh please. Give me something more practical to my life problems.

But I think I'm starting to figure out what Paul was talking about. Contentment is all about dependence.

In a fallen world where INDEPENDENCE is prized above all else, God wants us helpless and humble and totally under His command. That's step one: your heart attitude. Are you leaning on God or giving Him backtalk? Are you earnestly trying to understand Him, or demanding answers and rescue from Him?

Step two is trust. Do you really trust that God loves you and knows you intimately out of the billions of people in the world? Do you trust that He really does have plans for your good? Do you trust that He's already worked out what He wants you to do, as His servant for His glory? (Are you willing to be that servant?)

Ultimately, you need to trust God to deliver you from whatever sucky circumstances you're in. Read the Psalms, they're great for seeing how our faithful God delivers His people from persecution, oppression and just bad things in general. He WILL deliver you. Change always happens.

Step three is commitment. Until God rescues you, speak and act in a way that will please Him. It's like Christ's triumphant return--if He returned tomorrow, you don't want to be living in a way you'd be ashamed of, or regret. Same thing when He rescues you from your present situation--you don't want to be acting in a way you'd be ashamed of when He does deliver you.

Granted, you may not perfectly follow your commitment, every day, every hour. The great thing about God is that He doesn't require perfection from imperfect people. But He does want us to do our very best. So keep striving to live a life of love, to act right.

I think that is contentment. Not necessarily an "Oh, everything is going fine" feeling, but an "I trust God and I rest in that trust" understanding.

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