Praying Through Discontentment
Christmas can be the most wonderful time of the year. Unfortunately, it can also be a breeding ground for greed, commercialism, and discontentment. Yes, there’s something about the Christmas season that can cause us to look at our surroundings or circumstances and feel lacking. We find ourselves thinking, If only I had ______, I’d be happy.
This morning, in my devotion time, I read a rather convicting statement about how we often attempt to deal with discontentment. The author questioned our methods for coming to grips with our dissatisfaction and remarked that we often don’t ask God to help us with our attitude but rather to “fix” the situation so we’ll be more content. Ouch!
Honestly, I had to stop and re-examine the many prayers I’ve prayed when I felt discontent about something in my life. How many times did I ask God to help me with my bad attitude and the sin of discontentment? Not many that I recall. How often did I ask God to change my circumstances so I could be happier? More times than I can count.
The thought was sobering and caused me to wonder how many other sins I deal with similarly. How often do I ask God to fix someone else or something else instead of seeking a change in myself?
Is it any wonder my prayers often seem ineffective? Is it any wonder I am disappointed when God won’t do what I want Him to do? And lastly, is it any wonder I repeatedly face the same sins and wrong attitudes?
When we ask God to change us in a situation, the result is growth. Like Paul, we learn to be content. We learn to find strength in God alone. We grow to become more like Him and learn to seek His face more and more.
When we ask God to “fix” things that aren’t falling into place the way we think they should, the result is often disappointment, anger, and bitterness. After all, we’re not really seeking God’s best with such a request. We’re seeking an escape. An escape from the difficulties we have to face. An escape from the harsh realities of life. An escape from a world that’s not all we feel it should be. But if God changed everything around us without helping us grow, we would never be satisfied. We would always yearn for something more.
Let’s examine the facts. We live in a fallen world full of sin and darkness. Things are not going to be perfect here. The sooner we get that through our heads, the better off we’ll be. Troubles will come. Disappointments will arise. Heartache will hit. When they do, how will we respond? Will we seek God’s hand and beg Him to “fix” all that’s wrong in our lives? Or will we seek God’s face and ask Him to help us to grow closer to Him during challenging times? The choice is ours. What will we choose?
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. - Philippians 4:11-12
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. - I Timothy 6:6-8