What does it mean to be content.

What does it mean to be content in every situation? I am learning that God will throw you many curveballs in life & even when times are rough, we need to be content? This is alot easier said than done. I know that God is in control & that I should trust Him in every situation, but it's hard sometimes to want something so badly & yet you may never get it or it may not be the right time. Which, on the other hand, is suppose to build perserverance & patience. What if we are meant to get what we want, but have to work at it really hard? How will we ever know the difference? Are we out of God's will if we persue something we are not meant to have? I guess we have to pray about what we are meant to pursue & what we are to wait on or give up on. God will give us the peace we need if it is right.