Crushing DiscontentmentSample

The fourth cause of discontentment is that we give in to complaining.

If there’s one thing this generation is really good at, it’s complaining. We grumble about the weather, the traffic, our jobs, the husband who doesn’t clean up, the kids who don’t listen, the music at church which is too loud, the speaker who should have been more inspiring, the friend who should have been more caring, the mother who is too overbearing… It's a laundry list.

But do you know who had incredibly legitimate reasons to complain? Yes, Paul.

Paul was in prison as he wrote this letter. But imprisonment was only a part of what he had endured. He has been beaten with rods three times. He had been stoned, shipwrecked, robbed, spent a night adrift at sea, endured sleepless nights, went without food or water, shivered in the cold without enough clothing to keep him warm… Had Paul resorted to complaining, none of us could have actually faulted him.

Instead, Paul chose to rejoice because he learned to be content in Christ.

How do we counter this bent to complaining so we can live with contentment? Here's the fourth C to crush discontentment.

We can learn to cultivate gratitude toward God

Paul instructs the church and us to, “Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18)

Instead of complaining can we learn to say thank you to God? No matter what the situation, He is with us, His grace is sufficient for us, His plans cannot be thwarted, He will perfect that which concerns us, He will work all things out for the good of those who love Him. Friends, His presence and promises give us reasons to praise Him through every situation. Gratitude to God re-frames our circumstances.

Reflection: Have we fallen into the rut of complaining? Have we forgotten to pause to praise God?

Lean In: Heavenly Father, today I acknowledge that every good and perfect gift comes from You. Forgive me for feeling entitled to the blessings You have poured into my life. Teach me to find my contentment in Jesus. Amen.