(Philippians 4:11) I have learned to be content in all circumstances.

Although sermons, books, and podcasts are helpful, we ultimately learn what the Christian life in God is all about through years of personal experience—through the ups and downs of life.

In fact, God takes us through times when we live in the valley or on a mountaintop to teach us what it means to surrender and depend on Him.

This is why there are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity in Jesus.

There is no such thing as “three easy steps to Christian maturity.”

The journey of spiritual maturity takes us over both smooth and rough roads.

Paul learned what it meant to be content in God through life experiences—whether having much or little, whether hungry or well fed (Philippians 4:12).

He came to understand that no matter what circumstances he found himself in, he could trust in God’s faithfulness and provision.

The truth is, people are often discontent whether they are rich or poor, for inner contentment is found in God and not simply in our external circumstances.

Compared to the rest of the world, those living in the West are rich, and yet many of us lack contentment. We want more and more and are discontent when we do not get what we want.

I am not saying that we should not have desires for the future.

I am just saying that our future desires can be rooted in contentment.

Contentment is not a human effort or a self-help technique, for Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can live in contentment because “God gives us the strength.”

Hebrews 13:5 tells us that we can be content with what we have because we know that God will never leave us or forsake us.

In the end, Paul exhorts us in 1 Timothy 6:7 to live with this eternal perspective: “We brought nothing into this world, and we will not take anything out of it.”

Let us all live with this eternal kingdom mindset.

Contentment in God is great riches!