For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. 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.  Philippians 4:11,12

Most growing Christians do pretty well when things are progressing along—or even when things are falling apart. During the wonderful times we’re overwhelmed with God’s goodness; in the crisis we cry out to Him, expecting His rescue. It’s often the “in-between” that challenges us to keep our eyes on Jesus.

Paul probably knew plenty of Christians who were devoted when he was having meetings in their town. But many of his letters are addressed to these very Christians, urging them to not fall into stagnation after he’d left. Similarly, his writings often consider the trials Christians were facing.

And yet he said he’d learned to be content in all circumstances: When things were happening. When the hand of God was moving and it was obvious. It was easy to be wired and smile at God and tell Him how much he loved Him.

But he’d learned a ‘secret’ along the way: contentment that isn’t based on circumstances. Mature Christians find that same contentment in the “dailyness” and trivial things in life.

When nothing “awesome” is happening, many Christians feel like something is wrong. They not only can’t rest in Jesus, they don’t understand contentment of abiding in Jesus while nothing seems to be happening.

Mature Christians approach things differently: For one thing, they know their God well enough that they realize that much is happening that is unseen to human eyes. When things look uneventful, God is still working. They can still see Jesus in the commonplace and trivial because they take Jesus with them in their dailyness.

For another thing, Mature Christians are content because the line between secular and sacred has so blurred for them that everything they do is sacred. Even the mundane tasks of life are given over to Him. Whatever they’re doing they doing it for the Lord (Col 3:23).

This isn’t the kind of thing that we are likely to fake well. It’s something that comes from God’s Spirit.