“You can give up the need to compete in the world-when you accept being complete in Christ.”
Ann Voskamp
For years my shame kept me from feeling significant and valued. My low self-worth prevented me from seeing and believing who I am through God’s eyes. I was not convinced in my heart that I was unconditionally loved and accepted by God. I knew it in my head, but that truth needed to drop down eighteen inches into my heart.
My heart said I was not complete in Christ and what I did was never good enough. This mentality led me to strive to achieve and perform to gain acceptance. My contentment hinged upon being a successful mom, wife, or ministry leader. My significance came externally, from what I did, not as a result of who I was in Christ. And if I did not succeed, I would numb out through addiction. I was driven to find completeness through me and found it was not enough. But when I began to rest in what Christ has done and that I was complete in Him, my inner contentment soared.
Colossians 1:28 says, “We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” This is where I’m headed, to find or base my perfection in Christ and what He did on the Cross. When I’m complete in Christ, I am content. Contentment is the response to completeness.
If we’re not feeling content, then chances are, we’re not feeling complete or satisfied in Christ. The two go hand in hand; we cannot have one without the other. The more our significance and worth is grounded in who Christ is, who we are in relationship with Him and what He thinks about us, the less we will strive for significance through our achievements, success, and ministry. And the more we know in our heart of hearts how loved and accepted we are by God, the less we will seek to receive that through another means.
“The rarest feeling that ever lights the human face is the contentment of a loving soul.”
Henry Ward Beecher
Relevant Reflections:
How content are you?
What is your contentment based on – being complete in Christ or the success in your performance?