I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances (Philippians 4:11).

The word I hold on to here is learned.

Learned gives me hope. It tells me that Paul wasn’t always content, either. That word lets me know that Paul was once like me, looking forward and backward and all around instead of being content with where he was, who he was, what God was doing in the moment. And if Paul can learn…

When I was a little kid I thought that content was a verb. The only time I encountered the word was on aerosol cans–you know, contents under pressure. I thought that meant that the stuff inside the can would do something–would content–if you squeezed it. I’m not sure what I thought it would do, exactly. Explode or something, I guess. The concept was intriguing and vaguely unsettling.

But content is not a verb, is it? It’s not something you do.

And that’s the point.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.