Discontent

---

“I am disgusted with my life. Let me complain freely. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.”

Job 10:1 (NLT)

Remember Goldilocks, of the Three Bears fame? It’s a little hard to relate to Goldilocks. Sure, she did a little shopping around, a little trial and error, and a little exploration of her options—but in the end, she always hit upon something that was “just right.” And by the third try, too! Just right. Have you found that state of contentment yet? Or like the rest of us, are you still complaining that what you have is “too hot” or “too cold” or “too soft” or “too hard?”

It’s not difficult to spot discontentment in our lives. We are weary of the sameness of things. We like a fresh look. Even something that was “just right” a couple of months ago might need some major renovation when the urge to change hits. Now it’s time to ‘fess up. Are you a frequent furniture mover? Do you often reorganize your pantry or your desk? How many purses are stuffed onto the back shelf of your closet? Wouldn’t you love to trade in your car? Your sofa? Your bedroom curtains?

Where else does this urge to find that “just right” thing crop up? Do you change your mind annually about the wallpaper in your kitchen? Do you change your hair color? How many different colors of pain have been on your bathroom walls? Do you still like the clothes you bought two seasons ago? How many times have you rearranged your office? How long is your to-do list, your shopping list, or your wish list?

We’re always looking for ways to eliminate feelings of discontentment gnawing away at our sense of satisfaction. What will you try next? If you try a new schedule, new style, new size, new scenery, new shoes, new scents, or negotiate a new salary, will it do any good?

 

• What kinds of things do we look for to satisfy the restlessness in our hearts?
• The Proverbs are filled with common sense and uncommon wisdom. Even fabulously wealthy King Solomon understood the insatiable nature of people. He said Greed has twin daughters and their names are “Gimme” and “Gimme more” (30:15 MSG). Consider the lesson recorded in Proverbs 30:15-16. What four things does Solomon say are never satisfied?
• There is so much in this world that simply cannot satisfy. Discontent is not a product of modern, commercialized society either. Take a look at what Solomon had to say about people in Ecclesiastes 6:6.
• This world is tainted by sin, and cannot possibly fulfill the expectations we hold onto. How does Paul describe the state of the world in Romans 8:19-21?

So what recourse do we have? Do we spend our days like Oscar the Grouch, a disgruntled pessimist, trying to throw a wet blanket on everyone who passes? Are we left to stew in our feelings of dissatisfaction, unhappiness, restlessness, and displeasure? Do we succumb to our grumpy tendencies? Do we sigh over sin’s hold on a fallen world, helpless to overcome our complaining habits? I don’t think so!

 

• Are we desolate—doomed to a life of discontentment? No, we’re not. There is more to life than this physical world. Where can we find richness and satisfaction according to Isaiah 55:2?
• David agreed God was better than anything in the world. How did he put that thought into words in Psalm 63:5? How did he respond to God’s generosity?
• Food, fun, collections, and connections come and go. What God offers our hearts is unfailing, unfading, and eternal. What does the psalmist ask for in Psalm 90:14?
• What kind of love does God offer to those who belong to Him? Jeremiah 31:3 says it beautifully.
• In spite of this sinful world, in spite of our nagging discontentment, why do we hang on to our belief in the “fairy tale ending”? Don’t we all expect things to work out happily ever after somehow? What does Romans 5:5 say about the hope to which we cling?

Digging Deeper

We have a natural tendency to pursue happiness. We long for contentment, and are willing to explore every avenue available in order to achieve it. without even realizing it, we sometimes try to fill an emptiness in our lives that only God can satisfy. We cannot satisfy our discontentment by accumulating the things this world has to offer. Here are a few more Scriptures that support this truth:

 

• Psalm 145:16
• Proverbs 30:8
• Proverbs 23:4
• Ecclesiastes 5:10

Ponder & Pray

As you face the weeks ahead, take time to search your heart for signs of discontentment. Ask the Spirit to bring to light the kinds of disappointment that allow bitterness and anger to take root. To what have you been turning in order to satisfy the restlessness in your heart? Pray that you, like David, can discover how God’s love can satisfy your heart.

---

Adapted with permission from Cultivating Contentment, ©2004 Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. To purchase a copy for yourself, click here.