Finding Contentment in Haiti

Content. That word has resonated with me since our very first night in Haiti. As we were sitting on the rooftop, we heard music and decided to follow it and found ourselves walking into a small rooftop church service. We couldn't understand because of the language barrier, but the love of Jesus is universal and it was amazing to sit in on. 

Throughout the service as we praised and worshiped with them and listened to them preach the word of God in their language, God spoke the word "contentment" into my heart over and over again. 

Contentment isn't something we are very familiar with in America. We always want a better house, a newer car, a higher paying job, and the list goes on and on. And yet I found myself in this church service watching the joy and contentment on the faces of the people of Haiti. At first glance, I have so much more, so why am I constantly searching for more?

God taught me a lesson that night and throughout the rest of the week: the American Dream is great. Of course it's wonderful to have a great job and a nice house and all of those blessings in our lives, but if we are chasing the American Dream first, and chasing it more than we are chasing Jesus, we will never find contentment. 

We have to chase Jesus first. Leave everything else behind. Leave it lost in the dust as you surrender and seek Him with every ounce of energy and strength that you have. When you do that, everything else will fall into place. You find what it means to be content. 

Staci Luker

Hebrews 12:1-2