Have you ever thought about the connection between gratitude and contentment? Sometimes on our financial journey, we spend more time complaining about what we don’t have than the many good things we do have.

At More Than Enough, we hear all kinds of financial stories, many of them difficult and filled with pain. It is a very hard thing to walk in gratitude when we are financially stressed. It is much more natural to focus and speak about the stress and hardships, and complain that God is not enough.

We are no different than the people of history. We know from reading Scripture that the Israelites had a great propensity for complaining. So much so, that it disappointed and frustrated God Himself. God does not overlook our complaining hearts, and He even warns us in the letter to the Corinthians not to grumble and complain, “lest we be destroyed by the destroyer.” (See 1 Corinthians 10:10)

Complaining leads to destruction. If that is true, then the opposite must also be true: gratitude leads to life, growth and creativity.

It also leads to contentment.

Contentment is a state of satisfaction and fulfillment. It is a place of meaning and peace. It is a place where I personally become more and more satisfied in my life with God through Jesus Christ and His Spirit, and less and less satisfied with what the world offers me.

Paul says in Scripture that he learned to be content in every situation. (See Philippians 4) We often attribute that with the famous verse he wrote “for I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” While it is most certainly an astounding truth that we can walk through all of life’s circumstances in a state of contentment because of Christ’s strength, I believe there is another reason for Paul’s contentment.

Philippians 4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

There is so much in these few verses, but let me point out a few things that I believe led Paul to contentment.

1. Rejoicing in the Lord.
2. Knowing that God was with Him – “The Lord is at hand.”
3. Praying about everything with thanks.
4. Meditating and thinking on what is good, true, pure and lovely.

And what did Paul get in return? The peace of God which surpasses ALL understanding.

Don’t miss it. Gratitude, rejoicing, praying, thankfulness, and KNOWING God was near, brought Him peace.Contentment is a state of peace. He learned to be content by saying thank you.

Avoid destruction and be grateful

These are simple directives but not easy to do in our culture of entitled complaining. It takes practice to become a person of thanks, but it’s not impossible. Paul said it himself:  he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him.

So stop what you are doing (finish reading this of course) and:

1. Ask God to open your heart to gratitude.
2. Say your thanks out loud, or write them in a journal.
3. Meditate, or think on, what is good in your life.

And in regards to your finances, ask God to show you some of the things He is teaching you on your road to financial freedom, and thank Him for it. You, like, Paul, can do it. It is Christ who teaches you the way, and strengthens you to do what you think is impossible.

Rebecca van Noppen is Communications Director at More Than Enough. She is also a teacher, home educator, writer, and woman who loves to pray. A lover of Jesus, she works alongside her husband Financial Coach Dave van Noppen to help others find hope and freedom in Christ on their financial journeys.