The Struggle For Contentment by Tynea Lewis
A friend of mine from college and her husband recently bought an amazing piece of property for their family. I was happy for her, but instantly, I could feel a pang of jealousy shoot through me. I wanted that to be news I could share, but it’s not, and I could feel discontentment swirl around my mind. Have you ever longed for something someone else has? I have. Have you ever thought your life would be better if you could just have this or that? I have. When I fixate on what other people have instead of looking to all the amazing ways God has blessed me, I start to have a grumbling heart and somehow feel like he doesn’t care about me. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26 NIV) When I get stuck comparing what I have to what others have, I’m always going to lose focus. There will always be people who have more than me and people who have less than me.
When I focus on people who have less than me, I can easily feel all too good about myself. I become conceited and begin to think I’m somehow better than them. Both views are unhealthy. Both views lead to division. Both views sadden the heart of God. It’s easier to grumble about what we want than be thankful for what we have, but we are called to have a thankful heart. “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20 NIV) “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV) I don’t know about you, but that’s a wake-up call for me. It doesn’t matter if we have what we WANT. We are to give thanks in ALL circumstances, not just when we get exactly what we desire. We need to shift the way we think and adjust where we put our focus.
When I longingly look at people who have more than me, it’s easy to become discontent with my blessings. 22 | M AG A Z I N E N A M E PAGE 3 21
