Dealing With DiscontentmentSample

In this devotional, I took the long way home to show a passage of scripture that guides us in dealing with discontentment. It’s a very familiar scripture passage that you may have heard. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” When you read the verse in context, you will see that this is not a call to achieving the most athletic thing ever or lifting the heaviest object. It’s actually about contentment.

In the verses prior, Paul shares that he has learned to be content in whatever state he is in. He says that he has learned to be abased and to abound, to be full and to suffer need. Because of this posture and recognition of Christ, he can do all things. This is important for us as believers to acknowledge because, as Paul would later point out to Timothy, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Contentment is found in Jesus. I would argue that the source of much of our discontentment is placing our desires above our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Until we can consistently put Jesus on the thrones of our lives, we will wrestle with discontentment. So, I urge you to seek Him and His will for your life consistently. The quicker you are able to place Him back in His rightful place, the sooner the discontentment you may be experiencing will disappear.

Because of this realization, I want to emphasize the importance of valuing the Word of God highly. We understand through John 1 that Jesus is the Word, and I would suggest that when you value the Word highly, it is hard to fall victim to the enemy’s schemes, including discontentment. In times of trouble or feelings of discontentment, it is vital to find a verse in the Word to anchor yourself to. Wherever there is a need, there is a verse. God left us the gift of His Word so we would never be lost. We must cling to the Word as our weapon to combat the lies of the enemy.

I pray that you have undergone a spiritual transformation and perspective shift as a result of reading this devotional. Remember that moments of discontentment with life are not an indicator of your destiny but rather an opportunity to give God glory. When those thoughts, moments, or seasons of discontent arise, choose to put God on the throne of your heart, take every thought captive, and make it obedient to God.