Why is it, that we are never happy with what we have right this minute?
When school is out, I’m bored. During the school year, I’m always ready for the next break. Women, in general, seem to struggle with this, I think. My single friends are sure they’re missing out because they aren’t married. My married friends wonder if they missed out on the real fun because they got married. The ones with kids wish they didn’t have them. Those without kids are sure that children are the only thing missing in their lives. We aren’t satisfied with our bodies, our possessions, our husbands/boyfriends, our hobbies. Not, of course, that we’re dissatisfied with all of these things all the time. But I think that most women struggle here, in at least one area, almost every day.
It’s an “I’m left out” syndrome, a discontented attitude that says that God is withholding something great from me that he’s given to everyone else. And if we only had that one thing…then we’d be happy, content, satisfied. Then we’d be able to give, serve, love God and others, and on and on and on. And of course, it never happens. There’s always another thing to want, another life-step that we haven’t reached (a second child, perhaps). And so instead of being content and joy-filled Christians, our discontent grows until we’re bitter and frustrated and no one wants to be around us (thankfully, it only rarely gets that far!)
This summer, I’ve been thinking a lot about this topic for some reason. I sense it in myself all too often, and it’s hard not to give in to these thought processes. And since, I don’t have anything worth talking about regarding my activities yesterday (I ran errands, cleaned floors, made dinner, etc.), this is what’s come out.
What do you think?
I would love to see you — whenever you have time!!
LOL — did you add second child just for Trisha?
^Love that hymn…hits me where I need it!^
I hear you on the discontentment issue.Like all sin, it comes so naturally,easily,so effortlessly. I’ve been convicted lately that much of the problem is my focus. Where is my focus? Is it on me(most likely), my circumstances, others? Sadly, it is not consistently on God–where my attention,loyalty, and affection are all called to be.
He doesn’t want a part of me–but all of me.He wants my heart.Prone to wonder, Lord I feel it…
You’re not alone in this struggle.Prayed just now for you and all of us who commented to allow God to “adjust our focus,” and to flood us with gratefulness for being our much-needed Redeemer–daily.
It is against the fabric of our humanity to be content. It’s hard. We can only do it through Christ’s strength. I hate that Phil. 4:13 has been taken so often out of context that we forget what Paul was saying. I can do all things (read: be content in all circumstances) through Christ who strengthens me. That is where we are content. In this world, of our power…never.
i am SO on the same page as you today. we practically wrote the same post!
^ I knew she’d be the one person to disagree with you. ^
While I wouldn’t mind getting married (ahem, Kevin!), I think I’ve finally reached a point where I really am content in my singleness. I want kids, though. I ask Kevin all the time if I can have a baby. He says only if I steal one, and that would be wrong.
Funny – I was just thinking this morning that I feel like I have everything I could ever want. Not that I’d mind a second child or fewer dogs (
), but if the world as we knew it ended today, I’d be really satisfied with what I have and what I’ve done. Not that I feel that way every day, but those were my thoughts in the shower this morning!
I brought pasta salad, whipped up this morning after realizing Kyle was wrong last night telling me it was Tuesday night, not Wednesday night.