Great Is Your Faithfulnessಮಾದರಿ

Faithful to Satisfy

Any parent who has walked through a department store with children in tow fully understands the blood-boiling frustration of discontentment. Your list is short-and-sweet, loaded with essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste, deodorant, paper towels, and Cheez-its (yes, Cheez-its are essential). And a seasoned momma knows which aisles to take to get the essentials with little to no resistance from the tiny shopping partners. But then one day a birthday party invite arrives, for which you must purchase a gift. This typically requires the involvement of the invited child--your child--and, after much intercession and coaching of said child, you must brave the toy aisle.

[For all my Millennial and Gen-Z parents who are secretly judging me for not just shopping online, your day is coming. One day you will have to walk into the store, my friend.]

Shopping for someone else can be complicated, regardless of your age or stage of maturity. Your desire to bless a friend can challenge even the most contented, mentally- and spiritually-prepared soul when you spot an item you'd like for yourself. Just moments ago you were at ease, hadn't even considered one more thing you could possibly need or desire. And then discontentment comes knocking on your heart's door.

I use this frivolous example to highlight a prevalent challenge to the daily walk of most believers--discontentment.

Discontentment is often the result of comparison to someone else’s life, work, appearance, or possessions. But it’s also a result of ingratitude—failure to recognize His faithful provision for our needs, and miscategorizing personal desires as needs He is obligated to provide. Truth be told, God owes us nothing. The breath in our lungs is His gift. Provision for our families is His blessing. The opportunity to build His Kingdom, serve in His victorious army, a privilege.

If you’re battling with discontentment, you’re in good company. The Scriptures are loaded with examples of disappointed saints—men and women of faith who nonetheless battled with discontentment from time to time. The children of Israel made no bones about their many declarations of discontentment. The psalms give us hope as you see from some of God’s finest, some days they just felt like whining a little. The disciples even jockeyed for position while walking alongside Jesus in the flesh.

The apostle Paul did us justice when he wrote from the rat-infested dungeon of a prison cell in Philippians 4. He begins the chapter with general encouragement to just live for Jesus. Throughout the remainder of the letter, he reminded them of what it means to suffer for the Lord, live consistently for him, resist evil, and remain humble.

What desire are you tripping over while you rest in the blessing and favor of God? Regardless of a need you truly have, a desire you're trying to curb, or a mix of all of this and then some, God is faithful to satisfy. And He can guide you through His Word to a place of contended satisfaction in who He is and what He's provided.

Dig a Little Deeper

As you read Philippians 4 today, look for the simple directives that Paul gives to manage your thought life and find contentment in who you are and what you have. Spoiler alert: a mind-blowing peace is found on the other side of heartfelt gratitude.