Good Thursday Morning!

1. Question – Despite all the problems in today’s world – Are you content?

2. Thought – Jack had realized by late in 1961 that he was coming to the end of his eventful and productive life. He wasn’t and old man, but he felt like an old man. He did not long for death but was ready just to wait and accept whatever the Lord sent. Jack had defeated every move that Satan had sent against him through the power of the Holy Spirit of God, and he had no illusions as to the source of his victories. Now, once again loaded with responsibilities – two orphaned teenage boys, an elderly alcoholic brother, and a household – bereaved and sorrowing, ill and tired, Jack discovered one of the greatest secrets of life: that no matter what is actually happening around you, you can still be content if you hand your life over entirely to Christ.

Jack settled into a contentment that is hard to understand. He had to retire from Cambridge University. He was no longer able to go for long walks he had delighted in. He was not allowed to drink wine or beer, not allowed to eat anything other than a strict diet prescribed by his doctors. All the pleasures of his life had been taken away from him as also had been the love of his life, and yet he was content. He was in that rare state in which his physical disabilities and his emotional distresses no longer affected his happiness or lack of it. He had finally become able to make God the center of his life and to regard himself merely a bit player in the drama. He was not exactly happy; he had merely come to the conclusion that his happiness was not what he should be seeking at all. In fact it was completely irrelevant, and therefore he was content to be without it. (Jack’s Life, The Life Story of C.S. Lewis by Douglas Gresham)

“He was not exactly happy; he had merely come to the conclusion that his happiness was not what he should be seeking at all. In fact it was completely irrelevant, and therefore he was content to be without it.” (Douglas Gresham)