Dealing With DiscontentmentНамуна

Another key contributor to our discontentment is the concept of time. We frequently set timelines for ourselves that are heavily influenced by society. We base the success of our lives on milestones like being married, having a certain degree, house, or income level, all by some set age number. We stress ourselves out to accomplish these things, and if we cannot achieve them, discontentment begins to set in.

Even if we achieve these things, the sad reality is the achievement of these things soon proves not to be enough to find fulfillment, but that is another devotional for another day. It is not until we fall out of love with our timeline that we can truly rest in the fact that God has a perfect plan for us according to His time. The Bible tells us that there is a time for everything under heaven. Just think about it this way: would you allow a toddler to drive your car? In the same way, your answer is a resounding no; God often looks at what we think is best for our lives and says, “It isn’t the right time.” As cliché as it is, a no may not mean never; it just may mean not yet. Eventually, the toddler’s parents will say, “Hey, you’ve grown to a place of maturity, and you are ready to drive a vehicle,” but not until the appointed time.

In our ignorance of thinking that we know better than our heavenly Father, we begin to rush and get out of God’s timing. Society has convinced us in this Instagram, Instacart, and InstaGod society that we can have whatever we like when we like. This affects our spiritual journey because God’s answer is often in the form of wait or patience. Since we do not have to wait for anything else, we think a delay (by our timelines) is a denial.

Even our reading of the Bible makes us think that things always happen immediately. We read accounts in the Bible and flip the page to the good part, not realizing that the time between two chapters could have been several years. For example, scholars suggest that it could have taken upwards of 100 years for Noah to build the ark.

The Bible is full of reminders that show us the power of waiting on the Lord and patience, producing perseverance in us. As much of this Bible plan will suggest, we have to shift our perspective to say this wait is not in vain, and God, I know You will make it happen at the appointed time. We have to take an honest assessment and ask, am I discontent because I’ve placed my timeline over God’s?

Regardless of your answer, I hope today reminds you to trust God’s timing for your life. No matter where you may find yourself in this season, choose to trust God’s timeline for your life and seek His will for when and if these desires are indeed His will. Submitting the timeline to God can be challenging, but at the end of the day, He knows what's best for us.

Prayer: God, I choose to trust Your timing. Please show me where I have allowed the world’s timelines to taint my belief in Yours. I choose to trust Your plan and let patience have its perfect work in my life. In Jesus' name, amen.