When It’s Good to Be Discontent

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It is good to be content with what we have, but sometimes dissatisfaction is totally okay.

When It's Good to Be Discontent - It is good to be content with what we have, but sometimes dissatisfaction is totally okay.

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I’ve always struggled with materialism. I grew up with the idea that the more you had, the better you were. It’s been hard to fight that mentality, but I’m getting a handle on it slowly.

I’ve found the accumulation of more stuff actually to be disabling, yet it always creeps in. A recent discussion on Good Cheap Eats about the clutter in my kitchen has prompted me to think about downsizing my collection of kitchen tools. At least one box of stuff has been carted away.

Stuff can get in the way of things more important. Being content with what we have — or what we don’t have, as the case may be — is a good mental discipline and one that can help us in a multitude of ways.

But, there are times when we should be discontent.

We should be dissatisfied:

  • when we witness public or government injustices
  • when our income doesn’t cover our needs
  • when our debt is preventing us from living in freedom
  • when our neighbor is hungry or in need
  • when our sin is getting in the way of truly loving people

We should be really discontent when we see these things, enough that we are prompted to do something about it.

I started reading the devotional section of the Mosaic Bible last week. As I mentioned before, the Mosaic Bible’s devotional section follows the church calendar. Somewhere in my Methodist upbringing, I missed the fact that the church calendar follows the life experiences of Jesus and that Advent is the start of the church year. Who knew?

Advent is a recognition of the period of longing that preceded Jesus’ birth. Israel knew the Messiah was coming, and they desperately wanted him to come. The world was broken and it needed a savior. The people knew it and were dissatisfied with the status quo. Discontent in that instance is a good thing. too.

Our world is still broken; it still needs a savior. Yet, we know He lives. We know He will come again.

When It's Good to Be Discontent - It is good to be content with what we have, but sometimes dissatisfaction is totally okay.

Discontent is good when it draws you to action. Discontent is good when it prompts you to stop or improve a bad thing.

Discontent is best when it pulls you to Christ, to lean on Him, and to place your hope in Him.

How will you use your discontent for good this week?

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7 Comments

  1. Thank you for sharing this truly beautiful post, Jessica. Today our family is working on our gift for our family gift exchange via the Advent Conspiracy. I am truly discontent with the number of those in this world who don’t have their basic needs met. I am also a little discontent that we cannot give more, but I’ll trust God with that part. I love the reminder of Advent that He is coming soon and will surely restore all things. In the meantime, let’s act on our discontent with the way the world is. Thanks so much for sharing your heart with us in this post – loved it!

  2. Definitely a good thing to think about! For the moment, we are in a phase of balancing our family and not spending too much time looking outwards, say, to others in needs. Sort of the thing, we need to love ourselves before we can love others idea. And after three months of this process, I really feel good!!!! But I’ve been starting to think more about how we can act as a family outside of our home, now.
    (I admit I did put a kitchen gadget on my wish list)

  3. An excellent message… For me your words have brought new life to the saying “A reason for the season”. We all know the reason to be Jesus, but the idea that the discontent felt by so many this time of year is a reenactment of advent is enlightening, comforting even, and I will use it to refocus my prayers. Thank you for sharing these words. AMEN

  4. Amen.

    I’m Funny with that. I’ll be discontent. And I know I need to seek Jesus and his direction. And I start off trying. But I’m a control spaz and like to DO instead of rest and seek. It’s a cycle and I’m learning.

    But yes. Amen