Discontent

Hey Good People,

Full disclosure, I decided to stop writing.

I have wanted to write from my heart as a tool of encouragement for years and I finally did it. On my 30th birthday I started my campaign to gain attention and a following. You all joined me and I launched my blog. I wrote what I felt God wanted me to say. It felt good and I felt God was pleased.

Then, in December, life happened and I let my feelings consume me. I got this feeling that my current situation in life is not enough. Thoughts of “why am I still in this same place”, “why haven’t things gotten better”, “Lord, did you forget about me.” I was completely consumed with being ungrateful which led to discontentment. The thing that I tried to encourage others to be, I wasn’t. I wasn’t content.

I’ll tell you, a major component that led to this was social media. Seeing everyone’s highlight reel really got to me. Even though I know no one has a perfect life, it sure looked like it to me through my blurred vision. I even took a short break from social in hopes of getting over my feelings but that wasn’t the cure to my issue. I was still discontent.

So, I stopped writing. My logic; how can I encourage others to be content when I’m not? Isn’t that hypocritical? There’s no point, right?

Yeah. I took the selfish approach. I dropped off the face of the earth because I felt unworthy of the task I knew God called me to. Not realizing, that the call didn’t call for perfection. It didn’t call for me to be 100% content at all times in order for me to write about it. It didn’t call for me to feel like writing all the time. It called for my obedience.

I allowed my discontentment to lead to disobedience. Not cool! I lost focus and forgot many of the things that I wrote about. So, I went back to read what I wrote and I remembered. My portion has purpose. I don’t have to succumb to my feelings. I am not inadequate. God desires for me to look to Him for help, which means I don’t have to do it alone. Most importantly, my faith and hope is in Christ.

If you’re wondering if I’m still discontent; let’s just say I have my moments. However, I’m not going to stop writing. Instead I will continue to walk in the task I have at hand and in confidence that my obedience is more important than how I may currently feel. I won’t let discontentment stop me.

I encourage you to not let anything keep you from being obedient to whatever God has called you to do.

Ok, let’s have a moment because we’re family, right? What is it? What’s keeping you from moving forward in what God told you to do? Fear? Feeling inadequate? Worried about finances? Not wanting to fail? Someone told you it wouldn’t work out or can’t be done?

To keep it real with you, it doesn’t matter what it is. What does matter is God gave you the instruction. Which means He has given you everything you need to complete the task at hand. Even if you don’t feel like you have everything you need, you have faith. You can pray. You can listen for God’s continued instruction. You can lean on Him every step of the way. Jeremiah 29:11 is always a good scripture reference when we need this type of reminder. God knows the plans for your life so don’t allow anything, not even yourself, to get in the way of His plans. Be content in knowing that God wouldn’t give you the task if He didn’t plan on helping you accomplish it.

Don’t forget, your portion has purpose.

With Love,

Tam