Some people are afraid if they find contentment, they won’t change and grow. Therefore, they keep looking for what is wrong. Unfortunately, if you are continually looking for what else you need to improve you can get stuck in a rut of focusing on the negative. How can you be content if you are always trying to fix what you perceive to be broken? You can get caught in a never-ending cycle of self-improvement in an attempt to ‘be enough’.
It never stops, because if you believe that you are defective to begin with, you will never have the feeling of having done enough, even if you are constantly successful and improving! You cannot reach contentment, because no matter what you do, you could do more! Thus, the compulsive urge of trying to prove your worth continues.
Today I want to encourage you: rather than trying to change by focusing on what is wrong, focus on the Source of all growth. Focusing on God the Creator, rather than on your deficiencies, is a key to contentment. Our Heavenly Father is the First Cause of everything beautiful – from the colors of a sunset and intricacies of a flower, to creating the fruit of the Spirit within us so that we, too, may radiate His beauty.
And while keeping our focus on Him, let’s enjoy the journey of continuing to learn about ourselves, and extending grace where we need it the most. I have heard it said: "You can turn the hands of a clock, but that does not change the time." Be patient when you find yourself taking two steps forward and one step back; you are still moving ahead!
Please pray with me:
God, thank You that we are able to celebrate contentment because we know You to be both the Author and the Finisher of the good work You began in us. We trust that being changed into Your image is a process, not an event. Even as fruit needs time to develop before it is harvested, may we not pick at ourselves before we have had the time needed to fully ripen…in the Sun of your love, Jesus. Amen!
Until next time~ God Bless! Deb
Feel free to leave comments below; sharing your thoughts is appreciated! :-)