Ask God to open your eyes

In my last entry, I talked about true meaning of contentment and the effects of discontentment. Discontentment can root from a number of issues and circumstances. Today I am going to address a common cause of discontentment, one that I am also dealing with. Discontentment often begins with a lack of clarity or feeling lost. I don’t know what you are personally going through, but I am sure many of you face situations in which you do not have an answer. Maybe it is a matter that keeps leading you to a dead end or a fork in the road, not knowing which way to go. This “foggy” path can easily stir a dissatisfied outlook. When we do not have clear direction, we feel out of control. 

In Genesis 21- Hagar fears that her son will starve/thirst to death. She is completely hopeless when she begins to sob as she believes her son will soon die. 

“Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.” (Genesis 21:19 NIV)

Like Hagar, we desperately need the Lord to open our eyes! How often are we going through our own drought because we fail to see the well right in front of us? We are incapable of finding the answers, or following the right direction on our own. 

Maybe there is something you have wanted your whole life: achieve a certain degree, start a business, run a marathon, get married, travel the world… You are determined to do something, but you don’t know how/ where to start. Many people become frustrated with God because there is something keeping them from achieving their goal. (Thus they are discontent) I have always been told: “The Lord has a better plan than you do… The Lord has his own timing… be patient and wait for the Lord.” 

Like 99% of women, I long for the perfect man and eventually my own family. I struggle with a fear of never having this. For others, they chase after a career, that perfect job or title. Some battle with their self image and long for the perfect body. Many chase after material possessions. There are a number of things you believe will “complete you.” When you look around and see others with this relationship, title, or thing, you may become bitter or impatient. It is hard to believe that the Lord has a better plan and better timing when all we can focus on is how much we long for something. 

I encourage you to read Numbers 22. This story is an example of God’s protection and greater plan. God might not be saying “no” because he doesn’t want you to have something, but he might be protecting you! Or maybe He has something better than what you are looking for. Maybe you are single because God has someone so awesome that you have yet to meet. Or God has shut the door to a certain job because another is around the corner. There are many examples I could go through but the point is, we can only see/ feel what we want today, we have no idea what God has to offer us tomorrow!

The Battle of Discontentment

Discontentment: A restless longing for better circumstances. This is the very first sin in the bible; Adam and Eve wanted something more. Satan told Eve that if she ate from the tree, that God had told her not to eat from, then she would be “like God.” Once the serpent told her that she could have “better,” Eve was dissatisfied and chose to sin against God.

I had never thought of the story in this light. I always thought the first sin was disobedience, but when you dig down to the root of the story, the first sin was from a human character: Discontentment.

When I think about my life and all the sins I am guilty of, I am confident that 99% of them are connected to my personal dissatisfaction or lack of contentment. I can almost hear myself saying “If I only had_____, I think I would be satisfied.” When I let myself believe that lie, Satan has won! I am failing to trust in Christ and I have indirectly said, “Lord, you are not enough.”

Psalm 84:10-12

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in you!

This verse says- the Lord withholds NO good thing! Meaning all that is good, He has provided/given to me. There is nothing I am lacking because I have Him and He is all I need! If I truly believed that, truly lived under this lens how different would my life be? I would be completely satisfied! God wants me to start thanking Him for all the good things in my life instead of complaining about the things I am “lacking.”

1John 2: 15-17

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

What do I long for? Is this longing from the Lord or is a fleshly desire?

Psalm 37-  Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

I hear this verse so often. There are times I find it encouraging and other times I am in disbelief. I think the reason for these opposing reactions is due to my lack of understanding. This verse does not say: “Laura, if you do what the bible says and act like a good Christian girl… then… you will find a husband, become wealthy, look like a model, and have a thousand friends.” No No NO… I think it is safe to say I am not alone in this interpretation (Do good/ Praise Jesus, and you will be rewarded) What this verse actually means is- Delight yourself in the Lord (Develop a personal relationship with Christ) and He (Christ) will be all you ever want/need! If I am truly delighting in the Lord, no earthly thing even compares to Him!

Godly relationships, successful careers, & good looks are not bad things, but they CANNOT be the main focus of my life. These things will NEVER make me content.

Philippians 4: 11-14

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be ^[content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.

The popular verse, Philippians 4:13, is not talking about becoming a professional athlete or the president of the United States, it is talking about being content!!! WOW. Paul wrote this when he was going through unbearable circumstances. He chose to be content no matter what happened to him because he knew where he was ultimately going and that until then, He had Jesus!! Omg when I think about this it gives me chills. The bible tells me that contentment is one of the most difficult challenges, If not the most difficult challenge, that we as Christians face! I am not alone and I should not feel guilty for struggling with this issue, but I do need to ask for the Lord’s help. I need to trust God and allow Him to be my contentment.

Today my challenge to you is this, stop… take a few minutes and thank God for all the good things in your life & ask Him to be enough. Only He can fill/ replace all our humanly desires.

Ask Boldly!

James 1: 2-8

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

According to this passage, we are to be joyful when life throws us curve balls. The devil wants us to question our faith and feel distant from the Lord. When we are struggling, it is human nature to point the blame at someone. Satan wants us to resent the Lord when we are challenged, but the Lord wants us to lean on Him. During difficult times, we have two options:

1)      Give our anxiety to the Lord. We can allow the stress of our lives draw us closer to Christ by acknowledging our weakness and accepting His power.

2)      Take control of our own anxiety and “try to fix it.” Usually when we decided to take control of our lives we end up failing. We may be able to find a temporary fix, but let’s be honest… we all need help! Usually when I take the steering wheel I crash and then I usually end up resenting the Lord. “God why did you do this to me!?” But God would respond with- “Laura, you took the wheel, you crashed… but if you let me I will clean up the pieces.”

With the second option I wind up back in the same place… allow the Lord to take over and pick up my mess, or dig a deeper hole.

The second part of this passage (5-8) tells us to ask the Lord for guidance. Once I decide to give my issues to Christ, I need to rest in Him and allow Him to guide me. James tells us- “HE LOVES TO HELP.” But I need to ask boldly, with confidence. I often forget who I am talking to…. God created the world, so shouldn’t I have faith that he can provide for little old me? Shouldn’t I be confident that he is capable? If I believe the bible, shouldn’t I know how much he loves me? So why am I constantly stressing? Why am I so timid when I ask?

Psalm 5:3- In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

Philippians 4:6- Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.