Are you GOOD ENOUGH?
If we’re honest, most of us will say no. We’ll admit to wishing:
- We looked younger (after our teens anyway)
- We were thinner or fitter
- We were more organized and productive
- We had a better rating or record in our sport or activity of choice
- We could do what we do like someone else does it
- We had more fans or just more respect
- We made more money
I could go on, but you probably found yourself there somewhere, unless you have the gift of contentment where success is concerned. Even if you’re mostly content, you probably have your moments. I do.
No matter what I’m discontent with, the root cause is the saME. Did you catch that? Whenever it’s about ME, I’m not content.
When I was a kid, the song, “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden” was popular. One promise God never made was to give me glory. The promise He made was to use my life for His. Remembering that helps me return to contentment sooner.
The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Isaiah 60:19
When I’m not happy with the success I’m having in a particular area of my life, I often reflect on great men and women who died without ever knowing how famous they would become. This Scripture reminds me that if they’re with our Lord, and know about their fame on earth, they don’t care. God is their glory now. We don’t have to wait until we’re in heaven for God to be our glory. We can be content knowing that God is always successful, even when we don’t seem to be.
How has God helped you be content with the success you have or don’t have?
Contentment can be so elusive. Currently I’m trying to slim down a bit due to some health issues I’ve been having and while I love the results I loathe the daily check-in with the scale. Something about doing that pulls my heart away from the One who holds my heart in His hand.
I’ve had to redefine my concept of success. It’s been a good thing, as I’ve started to strive for the things above and not the things below.
I'm with you, Loren. I constantly remember the marriage talk that I did that had eight people in attendance. It felt like a colossal failure. The next year a woman who attended told me it had changed her marriage. Did SHE think I was successful? I would say so. Reminds me that God's definition of success and not mine is what matters.
Having been there, I'm compelled to ask you what you're thinking about the weighing in. Are you thinking negatively like you should't have to weigh in or that you should be doing better than you are? I try to ask myself if someone else were being talked to the way I'm talking to myself, would they be avoiding the said task also? Focusing on my gratitude to God for His deliverance from total gluttony, His complete provision of food for me and my family, and even that I have a scale to help me stay on track gets me in a better mindset. Praying for contentment for you in this area. It's a toughie! 🙂
Thanks Mel, I needed this. My list of discontent having gotten a little longer than usual. Reminding myself everyday that God loves me the way I am. So, I pray to keep my eyes on Him and see myself the way He sees me . . . and giving Him the glory. Improves my level of contentment every time.
I'm glad. We can definitely get into a discontentment rut, can't we? 🙂 If only we could keep our eyes on Him 24/7! One day we will.
Nice thoughts sister! Especially the sentence of whenever it’s about me I’m discontent. You may have just “hit the nail on the head” they say? Thanks for sharing! -Blessings, Amy
Thanks, Amy. May need it tattooed on my forehead, eh? 😉
Melanie