Contentment is an enormous issue that is ignored. We live in a society where discontentment entices us to want more. Contentment is a degree few have earned. The only requirement is the understanding of one’s happiness and fulfillment. How many of us can say we are fulfilled or totally happy with where we are right now? I know I am not totally fulfilled. I believed that God has so much more for me that I have yet to grasp.

In life, you desire to have more whether it’s tangible or intangible. You have to ask yourself “why am I craving for more?” Sometimes our wants are never in alignment with what God feels we need. Contentment knows that you are happy and satisfied with whatever may come your way. This week you will learn to look at contentment naturally and spiritually. You will have a five-day journey that will empower, enlighten and enrich your whole being.

Do you remember the days when our parents drove us around town? How about picking you up from school and having fifty million errands to run before getting home? How many of you had parents who were terrible drivers and always blame someone else for their driving? When I think about those experiences, I remind myself of how over protective our parents were of the driver seat.  The driver seat represented power to control your destiny. In the driver seat, you have to be equipped for all kinds of weather. I remember when I first started driving. I was afraid to drive in the rain. I would catch the bus or ask family for chauffeur transportation. I was teased by friends and family because of my discontentment with driving in the rain. One day on my way to work I encountered a bad storm. When I started out, the sun was shining bright. The closer I got to my destination the sun slowly lost its light. I turned the radio off. I never understood the myth of turning off everything. All I could hear in my head was my grandmother yelling.”God is talking turn everything off.” As I whispered a prayer, I noticed that my level of discontent had given me the level of contentment to continue my journey.

There are storms in our lives that will take us off the driving course. Sometimes the storms require us to turn everything off and listen to what God has to say. Those storms are God way of getting our attention. We have been discontent with our circumstances but not content with allowing God to control our ship. God has design us to be drivers. When I say drivers, he wants us to be content in every area. We are stuck in potholes where we are not destined to be. We have taken shortcuts and sharp turns that have landed us back at square one.  Some of us continue to drive with broken wheel axles, leaky and squeaky brakes, no air, and no heat and wore tires.  But what lies underneath our hood is an engine that keeps running despite its’ malfunctions. This engine represents the inner you. You have the will to go forward but physically you are discontent with your travel.  Right now, God wants you to get back in the driver seat. You have allowed life’s circumstances determine your level of contentment. Society has allowed us to be content with being a passenger. We have veered off our course too many times. God has laid out the map for us but our GPS can’t find the shortest route. With God there is no short route to your destination, He knows when and where to guide you.

Here are the shift gears for your travel:

P- patience to withstand the obstacles you will face while driving.

R- Renew your broken heart with unconditional love, renew your mind with joyful thoughts, renew your strength to fight back and renew your faith in God.

N-Nevertheless you are coasting your way through life’s journeys

D-stands for Determination. You may not know just yet where you are going but you are determined to get your happiness.

2- Stands for THIS TOO SHALL PASS. Your load is getting lighter and you can see the sun shining thru.

L- Stands for Landing. You have finally reached your level of contentment. You notice the change in the atmosphere. You can smile again without being afraid. Your tears of sorrow are now tears of joy. You are now free to enjoy the next level of your life’s journey.

Now that you understand your gears….GET BACK IN THE DRIVER SEAT.

Tranell E. Barton, MBA