One Thing You Need to Know to Be Content
It is that whole treadmill of performance, comparison, and frustration. Why? Why do we do this? Who is telling us that we are not enough? We obviously are not satisfied with ourselves. I'm not talking about being complacent or apathetic, just content with who God has created us to be.
Like the clay on the potter's wheel.(See January 31 Post) God has a beautiful design for each of us, unique and full of purpose. If I am a plate trying and trying to become a bowl, I am of no use to anyone. Striving leaves me frustrated. My shape, purpose, and colors were chosen by my creator with delight in his eyes.
We are deceived believing that "if I were just more..." We beat ourselves up as we write mental lists of our defeats and walk through life on a path of regret. Chains bind us, holding us back from the life of freedom and joy that we were sculpted for before time began. All we see is who we are not and who we should be.
The truth of who we are is this. If we are in Christ, our spirit has been exchanged with his. We are his child, holy and righteous. Done deal. Our soul which is comprised of our mind, will, and emotions is still in process. Life is a journey of learning to believe we are truly who God says we are and living from that belief.
In Christ, we are enough. His love for us does not depend on our performance. I can tell you that when I realized God wasn't mad at me, life changed. Within my soul, I thought and felt like a failure, based on my own perception and so I lived out of that lie. I was focused on my behavior, not my identity. I AM his. I AM precious, holy, and clean. I AM complete. That is who I am.
Another danger is comparing ourselves to the world's standard of beauty and success. Our real beauty is Christ in us. Success is behavior focused. Basing our thoughts and feelings of ourselves on what we do and achieve leaves us living life like sharks. We think if we stop moving, we will die. We go, go, go, work, work, work because we think we are what we do.
Imagine Jesus looking into your eyes right now and telling you, "it's okay. You can rest. Breathe, rest in me. You are mine and you are beautiful." Yes, you make mistakes, but your mistakes don't define you. It is hard to wrap our minds around but the grace of God changes our identity.
If you are not content with who you are, pray through these areas, letting them go. Ask God to help your unbelief of who you are. Maybe it would be good to write how you see yourself in each of these areas. Find out who you believe you are. Ask God to show you his truth.
*The way you look
*The way you relate to others
*Your gifts and talents
*Your role as wife
*Your role as mother
*Your job performance
* Your role as daughter, sister
*Your calling
*Your walk with God
Enjoy this amazing video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20D_ctkwlyo&list=PLescNSRBmQXPERc_jAMNItskZZ2D89jKc
When we are not content with who we are, it becomes impossible to be content with anything or anyone else. We try to make ourselves okay by having enough stuff, throwing ourselves into making our kids enough, judging our husband for not being enough for us. It will not matter the circumstance, if we are discontent with who we are. Nothing or no one will be enough.
We can learn to be content when we learn who we truly are.
"...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstance. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation; whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. " Philippians 4: 11-13