There is a philosophy that says we can experience joy and contentment if we simply accept our lives as they are and focus on the positive. It's just not true. You don't have to feel guilty when counting your blessings doesn't make you feel better. It never will. It's time to embrace our discontentment instead of shoving it to the side and thinking "thankful thoughts".
5 Reasons Discontentment is Good for Us:
1. Being discontent reminds us that we need God.
Nothing reminds us that we need God like a feeling of actual need. There are so many beautiful prayers in the Bible that come from places of pain, distress, and being overwhelmed. Of feeling angst and aimlessness. God is there. In those dark places. He isn't hanging out with the people who are doing "okay", he is chasing after the heart that has sunk so far down it needs RESCUE. That is what our savior specializes in: saving.
2. Our anxiety creates room for God's peace.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Thankfulness has a role here, but it is the how not the what. We approach God with thanksgiving, but also with anxiety! The thankfulness isn't what produces peace. God's peace is a gift we receive when we need Him, only He has peace that transcends understanding that can wash over our souls to guard our hearts.
3. Discontentment can be the courage to say something needs to change.
Good intentions to invest in our marriage simply fell victim to tight budgets, overbooked schedules, and sheer exhaustion. I told myself it was alright. Love is a choice. Although I have a husband I can be thankful for, I have officially decided I am NOT content with rarely having quality time with him. Date night was born.
Do not talk yourself into being thankful for a life that could benefit from change. There is an element of mothering young children that will always feel short on time, money and sleep. Instead of being content with martyrdom, consider how you might make small changes with a big difference. Once you've poured all of your anxiety at God's feet, ask Him for some practical guidance (James 1:5)
4. Discontentment mean's I'm not perfect. (Shocker.)
There is a real temptation for me to fall into the "Count your Blessings" trap. It has a lure of positivity, control, and self-determination that all appeal to me. Realizing that two small children can break me to my knees and create an absolute dependence on God is humbling in an uncomfortable way.
I have to be the real can't-handle-it me to truly know the peace and joy of the real can-handle-it God.
5. Here comes the Holy Spirit.
I know that real joy and contentment is the outcome of the Spirit of God in my life, not a sentiment I can manufacture or create. It's crazy for me to realize that God's Spirit lives in me. There's still plenty of "me" in me. The Spirit of God is loving and full of joy. I'm invited to walk with Him and have Him transform my perspective and attitudes, but that is a decision I make moment by moment. When I find my heart is full of angst and discontentment, it's an instant reminder that I am not allowing God's Spirit to guide me. Those icky feelings of bitterness, angst, or jealousy remind me that life apart from Him is far more difficult and less desireable than the challenging life I strive for in surrender to Him.
***
Inspiration for the discontent and overwhelmed:
O God, listen to my cry!
Hear my prayer!
From the ends of the earth,
I cry to you for help
when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety. Psalm 61:1-3
But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength;Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning,For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress. O my strength, I will sing praises to You;For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness. Psalm 59:16-17
In my distress I called upon the Lord,And cried to my God for help;He heard my voice out of His temple,And my cry for help before Him came into His ears. Psalm 18:6
She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 1 Samuel 1:10
2. Our anxiety creates room for God's peace.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Thankfulness has a role here, but it is the how not the what. We approach God with thanksgiving, but also with anxiety! The thankfulness isn't what produces peace. God's peace is a gift we receive when we need Him, only He has peace that transcends understanding that can wash over our souls to guard our hearts.
3. Discontentment can be the courage to say something needs to change.
Good intentions to invest in our marriage simply fell victim to tight budgets, overbooked schedules, and sheer exhaustion. I told myself it was alright. Love is a choice. Although I have a husband I can be thankful for, I have officially decided I am NOT content with rarely having quality time with him. Date night was born.
Do not talk yourself into being thankful for a life that could benefit from change. There is an element of mothering young children that will always feel short on time, money and sleep. Instead of being content with martyrdom, consider how you might make small changes with a big difference. Once you've poured all of your anxiety at God's feet, ask Him for some practical guidance (James 1:5)
4. Discontentment mean's I'm not perfect. (Shocker.)
There is a real temptation for me to fall into the "Count your Blessings" trap. It has a lure of positivity, control, and self-determination that all appeal to me. Realizing that two small children can break me to my knees and create an absolute dependence on God is humbling in an uncomfortable way.
I have to be the real can't-handle-it me to truly know the peace and joy of the real can-handle-it God.
5. Here comes the Holy Spirit.
I know that real joy and contentment is the outcome of the Spirit of God in my life, not a sentiment I can manufacture or create. It's crazy for me to realize that God's Spirit lives in me. There's still plenty of "me" in me. The Spirit of God is loving and full of joy. I'm invited to walk with Him and have Him transform my perspective and attitudes, but that is a decision I make moment by moment. When I find my heart is full of angst and discontentment, it's an instant reminder that I am not allowing God's Spirit to guide me. Those icky feelings of bitterness, angst, or jealousy remind me that life apart from Him is far more difficult and less desireable than the challenging life I strive for in surrender to Him.
***
Inspiration for the discontent and overwhelmed:
O God, listen to my cry!
Hear my prayer!
From the ends of the earth,
I cry to you for help
when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety. Psalm 61:1-3
But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength;Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning,For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress. O my strength, I will sing praises to You;For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness. Psalm 59:16-17
In my distress I called upon the Lord,And cried to my God for help;He heard my voice out of His temple,And my cry for help before Him came into His ears. Psalm 18:6
She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 1 Samuel 1:10
No comments:
Post a Comment