Life Not Going as Planned? How to Get Unstuck and Trust God Now!Shembull

If you aren’t happy with what you have, then getting what you want won’t make you any happier. Lynn Austin wrote about her experience with discontentment in her book, The Christian Reader:

Satan knows what he can use to dazzle and distract me. My enemy dangled before me the lure of a “real job” with a paycheck and prestige. To boost my flagging self-esteem, I snapped at the bait and signed a contract before prayerfully considering the consequences to our family life.

Within a few months, I knew I had made a mistake. Early morning meetings forced me to leave the house while my children were still asleep. Afternoon conferences that dragged on and on turned them into latchkey kids.

The demands of the job did not line up with my talents and interests. As the work pressures and the laundry piled up, I missed my daily quiet times with the Lord, my friends at Bible study, and my daughter’s Mother’s Day program at school.

When my contract expired a year later, I gratefully resigned. I had learned a hard lesson: not to be distracted by fancy lures that make me forget the things that really matter.

Lynn’s story reminds us of the importance of being content with what God has given us. The family in which we were born, the shade of our skin, the place we live, the type of job we have, the amount of money we make, the kind of car we drive, the spouse we have, the school we attend, and the abilities we have been blessed with are all exactly what God wants for us. As Lynn discovered, changing our setting or circumstances won’t bring happiness. We will only be happy if we choose to accept them as His best for us.

There is nothing wrong with working outside the home, moving, trying to find a better job, or buying a new car. If we are feeling unhappy because we wish we had something better, this is wrong. Think about where God has placed you in life and thank Him. You won’t find a better place on Earth.

Action: God does not make mistakes. No matter what your situation, look for Him.