Finding Contentment

By Ashton McGraw & Chris Jaeger In The Light of Truth – A Podcast by Illuminate the Truth.

Welcome to In The Light of Truth, a podcast where biblical truth meets real life. Whether you’re new to the Bible or have studied it for years, this is a space for honest conversations about the struggles, joys, and peace we experience as followers of Christ. Walking with God isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. Let’s grow together in the light of truth.

Finding Contentment in Christ

We’re Ashton McGraw and Chris Jaeger, and we’re with Illuminate the Truth, a Christian bookstore in downtown Fargo, North Dakota. In this episode, we’re talking about contentment—how to find it in a world constantly chasing more: more success, more stuff, more validation. How do we find true contentment in Christ—especially in seasons of grief, loss, or waiting?

Chris’s Story: Finding Christ, Losing Comfort

Chris:Two years ago, I became born again. I was rescued out of a life steeped in the occult. That salvation came with tremendous joy—but also deep loss. I lost my marriage and relationships that once meant so much. My life changed drastically, and with it came grief I didn’t even recognize at first.

Someone prayed over me one day and said, "You're hurting." That broke something in me. Until then, I had been trying so hard to hold it together. But I was barely functioning. Everyday life—like walking through a grocery store—became a painful reminder of what I had lost. My whole world felt foreign.

In that season, I clung to Scripture. One passage in particular gave me strength:

“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... I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” — Philippians 4:11–12

Paul endured beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonment, and more. And yet, he learned contentment. That put my suffering into perspective. Still, I struggled.

A sister in Christ lovingly told me, “I think you’re wrong to say, ‘It’s not enough.’” That struck me. She was right, but I didn’t know why I still felt empty.

Eventually, I realized the root of my discontentment was unbelief. Not disbelief in God—but in His goodness toward me. I carried guilt and shame from my past. I believed God’s Word, but I didn’t believe it fully applied to me. That’s when I began to turn the corner.

Contentment Is Belief In Who God Is

Ashton:That’s powerful. Realizing discontentment is often a form of unbelief really hit me too. We want more because we don’t fully trust that Christ is enough. But contentment is a fruit of walking closely with God—it grows as we root ourselves in Him.

Even in grief, we can be content—not because everything is okay, but because He is with us in it.

Contentment doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine. It’s not denial. It’s bringing your grief, longings, and losses into the presence of God, rather than trying to hide them or fix them yourself.

Chris:Exactly. I used to think I had to be perfect before coming to God. But He wants us to come to Him in our mess. As someone who’s struggled with perfectionism, that invitation felt both terrifying and freeing. I’ve even wrestled with being angry at God, feeling like I couldn’t pray or read the Word. I reached out to my pastor and said, “Please pray for me, because I just don’t event want to pray right now.” And he understood. We've all been there.

The Sneaky Sins: Comparison & Materialism

Ashton:Comparison is sneaky. It seems like it’s about things, but it’s really a heart issue. We don’t just want what someone else has—we want what we think it means: a happier life, a better relationship, more worth. And most of what we see is curated or filtered. There’s a mess behind every photo.

Materialism feeds into this lie. It tells us we’re one purchase away from happiness. But if what we have is never enough, then more won’t be either. I had to delete apps like TikTok because I noticed they were feeding discontentment and making me feel like I was lacking.

Chris:And it's not just stuff—it’s a cycle of coveting. A better home, a newer car, the next best thing. I didn’t realize how deeply ingrained that was in me until I began to surrender it.

The Bible is clear:

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world... But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation… For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.”— 1 Timothy 6:6–10

This isn’t just about money. It’s about where we place our hope and identity. Are we clinging to Christ or to things?

Reflection: Practical Heart Check

Ashton:Some questions we can ask ourselves:

• Do I constantly compare myself to others?

• Do I feel jealous, bitter, or restless?

• Do I believe if I just had _____ I’d finally be okay?

• Is my mood shaped more by my circumstances than by who God is?

• Am I consuming more than I’m abiding?

• 
  

If your heart feels restless, you might be trying to fill it with things that will never satisfy. Only Christ can fill that void.

Chris:The moment I realized that was life-changing. All of our self-help attempts can’t fix what only Jesus can. He alone satisfies. His love is unconditional—even when we feel unworthy or broken. When I’ve been in my prayer closet just crying, feeling ashamed, God has shown me a picture of a heart. His love. Despite everything, He still loves me. And He loves you, too.

Final Encouragement: Anchor Your Soul in Jesus

Wherever you are—whether in deep grief, a season of waiting, or surrounded by things that don’t fulfill—know this:

Contentment isn’t found by escaping your circumstances.It’s found by anchoring your soul in the One who never changes.

Jesus Christ. The one who died, rose again, and promises a coming kingdom where every tear will be wiped away. We don’t get everything here—but we do get Him. And He is enough.

You don’t have to be perfect. You just need His presence.

If you don’t know Jesus, know this: He knows you. He loves you. And if you have questions, please reach out to us. We’d love to talk and pray with you.

Thank you for reading. Until next time, stay rooted in God's truth and be the light.