This week I began a study on discontentment in women, specifically women in the Bible. I'm thankful that the Lord showed me alot while doing this. As a woman, I'm aware of what a epidemic this really is, however, I'm sure it is just as much rampant with men ....I'm just looking at it from the perspective I understand. Let's start with Eve. I never looked at Eve as having discontentment. I just always thought that she was a pretty weak-minded gal.
In Genesis 3:6 "..and that it was pleasant to the eyes,and a tree to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her ;and he did eat." It is amazing when you think about how this woman literally had everything at her finger tips and still wasn't content. This truly shows how discontentment leads to sin. If we are too busy looking at what we don't have instead of appreciating what we do we will be more prone to fall into sin. Another example of this is our economy; Look at what has happened, we are killing ourselves working to buy things with money we don't have to impress people who don't even matter! Really?? Look at what is warned in Luke 12:15 "..Take heed,and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."
From a woman's perspective, I can see where it would be very easy to open yourself up to this discontentment thru having jealousy in your heart. It is easy to get your eyes off God and on others and their things. I believe we all want to look nice and be the wife and mother we should be but too many times we get off the plan the Lord has laid out for us (Eph 5:21-32) and look at what the world shows us. Today's woman doesn't submit to her husband; she is women enough to go and make thing happen for herself.....just as Eve did.
As we journey into the depths of sin with our discontentment,we find leads us to have a sifted recollection. Just as we sift our flour to take out the lumps and hard places ;out our mind begins to do the same with our memories. Women especially might look at their marriage and begin to drift back to their single days - what fun they had living it up with out any chains tying them down such as a husband and kids and how they enjoyed being independent and the rush of a new relationships. However, sin doesn't let them see how they longed at that time to have the life they are in now and how enamored with love they were for their spouse in the beginning and how lonely the quite times were.
Take for instance the children of Israel in Exodus 16. Here they were led by Moses out of the bonds of slavery of Egypt. Now they are in the wilderness looking back and remembering not the hard labor and bondage but how nice it was to have the food they had. We do this all the time! How quickly we can see the glimmers of good but not the truths of what was. We will always have a negative outcome when relying on our selective memory.
With all this turmoil in your heart, your discontentment turns you into a spiritual dwarf. Whether you realize it or not your discontentment is directed at God. When you begin to hate everything about your situation you get farther away from the one who put you in it. In Matthew 6: 24 - It plainly states a man cannot serve two masters. You will hate one and love the other. In this area, One always falls out of church ,or if you remain you become completely disconnected with it. Our needs are supposed to teach us to trust more in the Lord and have faith in the plan he has for us- but if you are a spiritual dwarf you simply can't see things that way.
But there is hope for the discontented - you don't have to live with your unhappiness and turn to ruin. First realize that God's presence is constant . Despite your feelings of being alone in this remember what it promised in Hebrews 13:5 "..I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." IF you are his child, you are never alone. Be aware of how the Devil seeks out avenues to cause havoc in your life. You should search your heart and ask God to help you see your sin and take it from you.
Also take in to consideration that God's resources are unlimited. No matter how you struggle or find areas that your are unhappy with do as 1 Peter 5:7 commands "Casting all your cares upon him; for he careth for you." We serve a Father that made all creation, do we not have faith that he will see us thru our hardships? The Christian life was never promised to be an easy walk but the Bible does say that we should " Delight ourselves also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart." Psalm 37:5
Last but not least we should realize that God's plan is inevitable. No matter how hard we try to fix things to our favor, our efforts are useless. God does have a plan; You are a story that has been written and God already know the ending. Psalm 37:6 says: " Commit thy way unto the Lord; Trust in him; and he shall bring it to pass." It should be a great comfort to know that God is in control. We should revert back to our child like faith and not over analyze the waves of life but ride them out on our float knowing God is holding us upover the water.
I did this study because I myself am faced with discontentment at times. In my family alone I've seen it and out in the world it is everywhere. My only prayer is that one reading this my see their own sin as I have in writing this and do something about it! -God Bless you and keep you
Casey <3
