A Holy Discontentment

This morning one of my precious daughters walked into the bathroom while I was getting ready. I was attempting to do this quickly I might add because I was running late. Cold weather+comfy bed does not = motivation for getting up. Anyway, I digress... one of my girls comes in and says “mommy I need just a plain jacket. You see, I have this sparkly one, but it doesn’t have a hood. I have this windbreaker, but it’s not very warm. I have my gray one, but it’s too warm. So, I need a different one”. Ya'll, this mamma almost lost it (ok for the sake of full disclosure, I might have... just a little bit). You’d better believe that when we were all ready and in the car we had a little conversation about what needing something really means. I told her that she is more than welcome to tell me that a new jacket is something that she would like to buy... with her own birthday money, but need it...she does not!

Contentment. This is something that I preach to my girls all the time. Partly because we live in a world that is wildly discontent, partly because I struggle with it myself, but mostly because when we are complaining and living in discontentment we are proclaiming that Jesus isn’t enough. Sure, I realize that may sound extreme when thinking about a little girl that just wants a new jacket, but when we start making excuses our discontentment festers and begins to breed an ungrateful and entitled heart. This is not a life that is going to point others to Jesus. In fact, it might even push them away. Philippians 4 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. I think most of us are probably familiar with the popular verse 13 which says “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” This isn’t even the best part, though! Back up to verses 11-12 and listen to what Paul says to the church in Philippi WHILE HE IS IN PRISON “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” Then he goes on to tell us that the secret is that “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” What Paul is saying is that his contentment comes from Christ and Christ alone. No matter what his circumstance, Christ is where he finds his strength!

Does this convict anyone else as much as it does me? Here’s the thing, though. When I look at Paul I not only see that his heart was content in his circumstances, but I also see that he was careful not to become complacent about sharing the gospel. He didn’t sit back and say “it is what it is, and I guess I’ll let everyone else take it from here.” Oh no! He was still doing everything he could to advance the good new of Jesus. That is exactly what he was doing in his letter to the Philippians. He was encouraging and equipping them to reach others for Christ. He didn’t let his contentment become an excuse for complacency.

So when it comes down to it, I actually do think there is an appropriate place for discontentment. A “holy discontentment” if you will. As believers I think our hearts should be burning with the desire to grow in truth and to share that truth with the world. I think as we scroll through our social media feeds we should have knots in our stomach and a fire in our soul telling us that we can be part of the change that needs to happen. It is such a privilege it is to be a part of God’s plan to spread His Word! The discontentment that pushes us toward fulfilling that mission can be a really good thing! Maybe another way to describe it would be conviction from the Holy Spirit. I can say one thing for sure, though. My darling daughter was definitely NOT being convicted by the Holy Spirit that she needed a new jacket this morning and the next time something like this comes up, she is going to become super familiar with our dear friend, Paul!