Are You Satisfied?

Forty-four percent of Americans say they are very satisfied with the way things are going in their personal life. This is according to information gathered by surveys conducted by the Gallup corporation, a firm know for its public opinion polls. According to Gallup there has been a continued decline in personal satisfaction since January 2020, when the measure peaked at 65%, just before Covid. Gallup also reported that those who attend church on a regular basis and those who are wealthy are more likely to report that are satisfied with their lives. What would it take for you to be satisfied with your life? In Philippians Paul describes has he has had both abundance and need and was still satisfied.

Philippians 4: 11-12 ESV Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 

Like Paul, James had learned to be joyful and optimistic through trials and testing because he understood them to be privileged occasions for growth.

James 1: 2-4 ESV Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

There is a tale of a king who suffered from a painful ailment. His counselors advised him, the only cure was to find a contented man, get his shirt, and wear it night and day. So, the king sent messengers to find such a man, with orders to bring back his shirt. After months of searching the kingdom, they returned empty-handed. The king asked his servants, did you find a contented man in all my kingdom? Yes, O king, we found only one they replied. Then why did you not bring back his shirt, the king demanded? The servants replied, my king the man had no shirt. I am a lot like the king in this story. In this imperfect world I am searching for a cure, for satisfaction... and there never seems to be enough for me to be satisfied. I would like to say that I am satisfied with all that I have, but unlike Paul and James I have not yet perfected my faith and I fear that I won't be truly satisfied ever. I know I sin and fall short of God's glory daily, and I feel I will not be satisfied until that day when I awake in Glory. There is an old hymn that describes well where you can find true satisfaction and the lyrics go like this: I am satisfied with Jesus, He has done so much for me: He has suffered to redeem me, He has died to set me free. I am satisfied, I am satisfied, I am satisfied with Jesus, But the question comes to me, As I think of Calvary, Is my Savior satisfied with me? For those who are believers, the question of God's satisfaction is answered through faith in Jesus Christ. If you have placed your trust in Jesus, God sees you as holy and righteous, not based on your own actions, but because of what Jesus has done at Calvary! 

1 Peter 2:24 ESV He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 

We can carry around our Bibles every day and remain unchanged. However, if we study Scripture and persist in prayer, by faith, we encounter the One who is worthy of our worship. He provides us with true satisfaction, no mater if you currently are living in prosperity or total emptiness. No matter the challenges you face today my friend, come to Jesus. He will satisfy your deepest needs!