Sometimes that nagging feeling that something's "not quite right" can be a great catalyst for earnest evaluation, and then much needed change in our lives... ... I can think of times in my own life where God used a vague unsettledness (i.e. discontent) to cause me to step up and out in faith, and make adjustments in my life. These changes were quite necessary, at times life changing, a few times life saving. But this is not the genre of discontent I wish to address.

We live in a society that does not seem to value the concept of contentment much. The grass is always greener… I could be so happy if only this occurred. I would be totally fulfilled if only I was in that line of work. Sometimes we Christians, supposedly knowing better, get caught up in finding our identities in something else other than Christ. Even if we find ourselves looking for merely a portion of our identity in things other than Jesus, there is potential for damage in this. Which brings me to contentment again. The sort of contentment that rings true in our hearts, and brings peace to our hearts. The contentment in knowing we are in God's word, God's will, God's ways. The contentment in knowing that He is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." (Eph. 3:20) That's contentment!

These little attacks concerning our identity and value are little more than assaults from the pit, and we need to recognize them as such. Sometimes the attacks result from a misplacement of our priorities, trying to get from men what only God can give. A passage such as Hebrews 4:15-16 can be of great comfort to us when we find ourselves pulled by the world, tugged at by the flesh. It reads: "For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of Grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." What a comfort to know that Jesus is with us throughout our temptations, trials and sorrows, beckoning us into His loving arms to help us to find love, acceptance, identity, and yes, contentment. All we have to do is take these words of His to heart, "Come unto me, all ye…"