4 Ways to Overcome Discontentment
Too often, I find myself comparing where I am now with where I thought I would be. Or worse, I’m comparing myself to others my age. It leads to discontentment and strife within me. All of a sudden, nothing I have is good enough. Everything is old and outdated. If I don’t repent of this, it bothers me in my sleep and I either toss and turn or have incredibly strange dreams.
It’s pretty easy to become discontent. Instagram “models” are filtered to unreal proportions. Print models have every flaw airbrushed and Photoshopped away. TV shows are constantly showing off people’s fancy homes and new cars. But quite often, those are rented or borrowed. Travel bloggers seem to have it all. But we don’t see what goes on behind the scenes. Sometimes, they aren’t even at the places they claim to be.
Comparison
Comparing ourselves to that false reality makes us feel as if we’re somehow lacking. We start to compare our old outfits to their new ones. Our old cars to their flashy models and our modest homes to their opulent ones. Most of the time, we see the healthy figures on display and hide ours in oversized clothes. I’m guilty of them all. Discontentment rears its ugly head and leads to envy, something we absolutely must watch out for.
30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.
Proverbs 14:3 (ESV)
Envy destroys
What does that mean? Basically, envy destroys your joy. It can lead to you blaming God for the things you don’t have instead of praising Him for what you do have. Envy has caused many people to walk down a dark path leading to even worse pain.
The best example of the pain envy causes is with Cain and Abel. God was pleased with Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. Cain was angry and downcast. God warned him of what could happen if he allowed sin into his heart.
6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to[c] you, but you must rule over it.”
Genesis 4:6-7 (ESV)
Cain did not heed this warning and murdered his brother. Had he listened to God’s warning, this could have been avoided. Discontentment leads to envy, which causes all sorts of problems. However, we have ways to bring contentment back into our hearts.
Repent and pray.
First of all, repent and pray. I know that some people feel that Christians don’t need to repent, but I disagree. When we allow ourselves to remain discontent, we’re not appreciating what God has done for us and turned our focus to material things. It’s okay to want things, but it’s not okay to focus on that so much that it changes our hearts and minds. When I find myself dealing with this, I ask God to change my heart. Instead of desiring things that I can’t have, I want my heart to focus on God’s will for me.
Offer thanks for what you have.
The second thing we can do is offer thanks for the things, situations, and people that God put in our lives. When it’s not so hot outside, I go walking. We live around a lot of trees and they are full of different kinds of birds and lots of squirrels. Listening to those birds sing really changes my mood. I thank God for the singing of the birds and the gentle breeze. You don’t have to leave your house to be thankful. The fact that there is a roof over your head is something to be thankful for. Look around you and praise God. Write them down and refer back to them whenever you sense yourself feeling discontent.
If you’re in need of a gratitude journal, here is a great one!
Avoid negativity.
In order to stop being bombarded with things, I get off social media. I take a break from certain apps or just delete them altogether. They are often time wasters anyway. Rather than watch other people living it up, I work on building myself up. Get into the Word and focus on maintaining the joy in your heart.
Work for it.
It’s not bad to want things. It’s okay to travel, get healthy, and dress nicely. God even says that we can ask Him.
2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
James 4:2-3 (ESV)
However, when you focus too much on these things, that is when it becomes an issue. Instead of looking at what you don’t have, try looking at how you can potentially get it yourself. If you’d like a nicer car, perhaps consider a side hustle to earn extra money so that you can purchase one. Avoid purchasing things you don’t need so that you can save for the things you really want or need. Just be sure to pray in all things.
Focus on God’s will
Instead of looking at material things or someone else’s life, focus on God. Stay in prayer so that you can see the path He wants you to take. Another person’s path is completely different than yours, so don’t use it as your guide. Remember that you can’t take any of these material things with you.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and[a] we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (ESV)
Have a blessed week!
Before you go…
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