I admit I approached Chasing Contentment: Trusting God in a Discontented Age by Erik Raymond with the idea that I was going to learn some new tricks to be more content. That was the wrong approach. The world wants us to believe there are new steps and a new path to find contentment. However, Raymond writes about the only source of true contentment—faith in God.

Raymond writes:

This book explains what contentment is and several ways to learn it. It is pivotal to understand that contentment is anchored in the God who is content in himself. What better gift can God give to hungry, hurting people like us than himself?

The book is structured in two parts: Defining Contentment and Learning Contentment. Raymond defines contentment as “the inward, gracious, quiet spirit that joyfully rests in God’s providence.” He is quick to point out that there is no shortcut to contentment. It is something we are continually learning throughout our lives as we look to Christ.

The most powerful chapter to me is “See Through the Shiny Wrappers.” From the beginning in Genesis, temptation has come to us in shiny packaging. Adam and Eve lacked nothing, yet the “shiny wrapper” presented by the snake convinced them they needed something more. The chapter goes on to show that our “perception of need and desire for pleasure” easily lead us into sin and discontentment.

Chasing Contentment: Trusting God in a Discontented Age presents a solid definition of contentment and then consistently points to prayer, scripture, and Christian fellowship as the methods to learn contentment. There are no quick fixes or five easy steps to change our circumstances. It is all based on God, who is content in Himself, and calls us to Him. ( )

This is an extraordinary book. And comes at a most opportune time. Today. The today that we as a people live in.

We live in a world that demands us stay in tune with it. To seek its pleasures and treasures. Some of which are unlikely, and unattainable. At a time when we are living in economic hardships and crisis, so many of us cannot get everything we want. Or everything we desire.

We live in a world that demands we get our every desire fulfilled! We raise our children to begin making demands on the "instant gratification" process starting in infancy. And when they reach adulthood, they cannot help that they are unable to cope.

We live in a world of instant marriages. Along with the instant divorce. Individuals are marrying today with the attitude that "well, if it doesn't work out we can always get divorced".

We know we cannot reach contentment on our own. It is impossible.

Raymond guides us back to where we can find that true contentment. The one that will give us peace in whatever situation we find ourselves. Back to where the things of this world become unimportant, and the things of the spirit are where we should be seeking contentment.

I give this book five stars.

A big thumbs up.

And my personal recommendation award.

You can purchase this book here. It is available in Kindle edition, paperback, and as an audible CD. It would make a great study book for a group! ( )