7 Surprising How To's to Help Deal with Discontentment - Jeanne Takenaka
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How do we deal with discontentment when the world pushes us to always want more?
When I was a girl, Christmas was a highlight of my year. Or rather, waking up Christmas morning, hoping those dolls and clothes and toys I couldn’t live without would be wrapped and tagged with my name. And though I received some of the items on my Santa list, others still remained unfulfilled.
And isn’t that how life is? We find our hearts yearning for more. Whether it’s new clothes, a remodel on the house, a different car, a “new do” for our hair. It’s far too easy to become wrapped up in having something we don’t have.
7 Surprising How To's to Help Deal with Discontentment— It’s far too easy to become wrapped up in having something we don’t have. #tellhisstory #dealwithdiscontentment #contentment Click To Tweet
True story: this year, I have been eager to move. In my weaker moments, I yearn for a newer house with updated appliances, a pretty interior, peaceful colors, and ambiance. I started evaluating why I’ve wanted this so much.
Y’all know this year has held many challenges. Part of me feels like, if I can just find a new home to start over in, everything will be better . . . right? The thing is, even if we had plans to move this year (and we don’t), the problems, the struggles, the heartaches will follow me.
And yeah, as much as it would be fun to decorate a new home and find new walking paths, a move will not fix my problems. It won’t heal my heart.
When the “pretty things” this world allures us with loom attractive in our eyes . . .
When they entice our hearts to crave them . . .
We must choose to redirect our thoughts to Jesus.
The world tempts us to believe God hasn’t satisfied us. He hasn’t met our needs. The world’s aim is to draw us away from our Father. When we are tempted to complain to Him that He hasn’t given us enough, we need to take action to change this.
7 Surprising How To's to Help Deal with Discontentment—When we are tempted to complain to Him that He hasn’t given us enough, we need to take action to change this #tellhisstory #dealwithdiscontentment #contentment Click To Tweet
How do we deal with discontentment?
We all face discontentment. How do we deal with it?
If we’re fighting discontentment
Determine why we want something we don’t have. Sometimes knowing the why behind the want helps us to better understand ourselves. This also encourages us to be honest with our Father about where our hearts are.
Consider where we are seeking satisfaction. If we want something God hasn’t given us, are we seeking satisfaction from some lesser thing? From something less than God?
Start a gratitude list of what we have. When we stop to consider all God’s given us in our relationships, in our situations, in the stuff we own/get to use, this helps us redirect our focus. Choosing gratitude also reminds us that God’s meeting our needs and many of our wants.
Mindsets to grow in contentment
Trust that God gives us what He knows is best for us. If He hasn’t given it to us, we need to trust that it’s not best for us, at least not right now. We need to choose to trust God, that His plans are good for us, even if His definition of “good” differs from ours.
Guard against allowing that thing you don’t have to become an idol in your life. If we become upset with God for not giving us something we want, this can grow into a wall between us and God.
Remember God’s character. God is faithful. Our Father is is good. He is a personal Father. He is the God of love. Remembering who God is helps us accept when he says “No” or “Later” to something we want now.
The big truth is this: we are loved by the Creator of the universe. When we understand that He loves us perfectly, passionately, and completely, it’s easier to accept where we are and what we have. Trust plays in here too.
Benefits of Choosing Contentment
Satisfaction with what we have gives us peace. When we give discontentment the upper hand—we crave something God’s chosen not to give us—we may find ourselves striving to get it. Or striving with Him. We find ourselves justifying why we deserve to have it. Our thoughts become consumed by that thing we don’t have.
Perhaps discontentment has always been a human challenge. Eve wanted to be like God. She wasn’t content with the Garden God placed her and Adam in. She wasn’t content with Adam. Eve wanted more.
God knew that fruit wouldn’t be healthy for her. When He chooses to withhold something, will we trust He knows more about how that item will impact us than we do? The answer to this question can help us deal with discontentment. When we choose to trust God more than trusting that we need that thing, we can live in peace.
By the way, as I grew into adulthood and Christmastime rolled around, physical gifts took a back seat to the gifts of presence with loved ones. As we head into this holiday-filled time of year, let’s deal with discontentment and choose to look to deepening our relationship with God more than we look for the things we want.
What about you? When you have struggled with discontentment, what has helped you? What helps you to remain content?
Come share your story at the Tell His Story linkup. Connect and be encouraged by like-minded friends! #tellhisstory #linkup Click To Tweet
Most weeks, I link up with Grace and Truth, Anita Ojeda, Instaencouragements, and sometimes Let’s Have Coffee. Come join and read more encouraging posts!
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
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