You've Known for a While Now

There's a difference between contentment and compromise, and the Christian life depends on knowing which one you're practicing.

Paul said he had learned to be content — and that word "learned" ought to stop us cold. Contentment isn't natural. It's forged through seasons of plenty and want, through watching God come through when you had nothing left to bargain with — and sometimes through getting exactly what you wanted and watching it disappoint you (Philippians 4:11).

But not everything we've accepted was the Lord leading us into contentment. Some of it was just settling. Settling for a church that preaches around the hard things instead of through them. Settling for a marriage that functions but was never really fought for. Settling for a version of the Christian life that was never meant to cost you anything.

So ask yourself honestly: Did God bring me here, or did I just quit?

Contentment has peace at the bottom of it — even when it's hard. Compromise has a quiet ache that won't leave you alone. You've known the difference for a while now.

Don't spiritualize your settling. Fear wearing the clothes of faith is still fear.

The Holy Spirit will tell you which one it is. He usually already has.