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At the beginning of this year, I wrote about contentment (http://missdaisyspetals.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-true-contentment.html ) and how much I really wanted to experience true contentment in Christ whether I am “up” or “down”. So it was my goal in 2013 to learn how to be content and generally happy with my lot in life. What I didn’t realise then is that this experience of being content is much easier said than done. Half way through this year I blogged about how disappointed I was that everything that I had planned for 2013 basically fell through (http://missdaisyspetals.blogspot.com/2013/07/half-way.html ) and although I expressed my acceptance that this was God’s leading, I still found myself feeling somewhat…discontent.

A few months ago I was on the phone to my good friend Anike expressing my disappointment and confusion about how this year has gone so far. Anike is someone who has done many exciting and fulfilling things in her young life so I took the opportunity to ask her how she felt her year/life was going. She replied “I think all is vanity” Not the response I was expecting “Humans are interesting, you may look at someone’s life and wish you were doing what they are doing or have what they have, and that same person can be looking at  someone else wanting to do what they are doing. It’s all about learning to be content in life as you will always want more”

This conversation was very special to me and got me thinking. Maybe this year didn’t work out the way I had planned because God is trying to show me where exactly I am trying to find contentment. I began to wonder, “Do I truly believe that true contentment comes from Christ alone?” “Am I trying to find contentment in external things?” “What if this year did work out the way I had planned?” “What if Christ did give me all that I desired would I eventually turn around and want more?” “Would I look at what someone else is doing or what they have and wish I was in their shoes?” Anike is right, humans are very interesting the fact that we can be given everything and still want more. Why is that?

From my own experience and observation, I think the problem of discontentment has its roots in these two areas;

1) Christ is not the centre  

All human being have longings, we naturally long for love, acceptance, sense of worth, approval, affection etc. I believe that Jesus has put these longings in us that we might long and thirst for Him and for his love, acceptance and approval.  ‘In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.’John 7:37 When we recognise this fact and place Him in the centre of our lives , we will never thirst. He will satisfy these longings to a point where nothing can disturb our peace even if we are rejected or unloved by those who are closest to us. However most of the time we as humans look for more tangible things to satisfy the thirst of our heart. It could be anything; friends, family, relationships, food, our talents, clothes, television, career and even ministerial activates.  Whether good or bad, if these “things” are being used as a substitution instead of Christ they will automatically become our idols and no matter how deeply we drink of them we will always come up thirstier. Jeremiah 2:13 says ‘For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.’ A cistern is a place where rain water is collected and stored, in the bible times they didn’t have taps in their homes so they would go to a cistern to get water during a dry season. Though cisterns can be helpful they cannot provide as much water as a fountain or completely sustain during a dry season. With a broken cistern, the rain water goes in but cannot be held so just goes straight out.

This scenario reminds me of fizzy drinks and how you still feel thirsty after drinking them, its only water that can truly quench thirst. Likewise these things cannot be a substitute for Christ because they are perishable; Friends and family can fail us, jobs and relationship don’t always work out, the TV programs that some of us are addicted to are not real life, clothes go out of style and make up fades and what is left is a thirsty soul as these things appear to satisfy for a time. Christ, the fountain of living water, is the only one that can truly satisfy the thirsts and longings of our hearts. He offers us living water that may never thirst “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:13-14 He can grant us our heart’s desires and much more but only if we recognise him as our centre.  “ Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

2) Looking at others

There are times when we can look at other peoples’ lives, who they are and what they are doing and then compare their life to our own and wish to be in their shoes or wonder why our life isn’t as great as theirs. This may not seem like a serious issue but the bible says that this is not wise “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Cor 10:12. I personally believe comparing our life to others is not wise because it can cause discontentment, discouragement and somewhat resentment towards God. We start believing God doesn’t love us because he favours and blesses others more.

We must remember that God has a special purpose for each and every single one of us that is not better or worse than someone else’s but best for us as an individual. It is a great shame to waste our lives away wanting someone else’s life or being discouraged because we are not blessed like so and so. Thinking about this second point has opened my eyes to the dangers of social media,  (Just to be clear, I am not knocking social media as you all know I have a blog, a Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account) I personally believe social media can become dangerous if it is being used to “watch” and compare yourself to others. I know many people who are struggling with this and who become very discouraged when they see pictures or status updates of newlyweds/happily married couples, people traveling with friends, people having babies, people sharing aspects of their Christian journey, people going forward in their career or just people expressing their happiness.

When it comes to social media let’s be real and consider this; People will only show you what they want you to see. Think about it, would you post an unattractive picture of yourself or broadcast your family secrets? If married, would you post pictures of you and your husband/wife arguing? No? Same as everybody else (apart from the few exceptions) with social media everyone is putting their best foot forward; even myself, I choose what I wish to share on this blog. Nothing is picture perfect, so let us not be discouraged or envious of people based on their social media highlights but rather be happy for them and enjoy what they are sharing. Don’t forget we all have highlights, even if we don’t realise it.

When it comes to mortal man not all is as it seems, so we need to focus on Christ. Everything about Christ’s life is laid open before us so that we can watch and compare our life to His. How often when we are busy scrolling through Facebook and Instagram do we ask “Is my life reflecting the life of Jesus?” Jesus is the only person we can safely look up to, nothing is hidden or pretentious, everything He is and everything He promises is true and can be ours if we shift our focus away from other peoples’ lives and social media highlights and onto Him.

My Thoughts

 So we’ve reached the last month of 2013 and looking back I can say God has done so much for me this year; I have learnt things that I would not have had the opportunity to learn if I was in my “preferred situation”.  So why was I having feelings of discontentment throughout the year? Why in my heart was I asking for more? Perhaps Christ hasn’t been the centre of my life and perhaps I have been watching people and comparing and God has been using different scenarios throughout this year to bring this to my attention.

A few days ago when I was thinking and writing about this I decided to tell myself “Daisy, don’t waste your Christian journey and your life away just mourning over things that are not going your way. All these feeling are just drawing you away from God, and making it hard for you to grow and develop the character that Christ is trying to instil in you.”

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t aspire to go higher and higher and achieve more, what I am saying is that we should let God lead our lives and be happy with the decisions he makes even if we feel like we are at a standstill and there is no progress, excitement or fulfilment. Christ has allowed us to be where we are now as there is something he wants us to learn, develop or overcome. Be encouraged, your current situation may be preparing you for the very thing that you have wanted to do or the very place in life you want to be; but before He grants you anything He must develop in you the character to maintain whatever he has given you.

So now I am back to where I started, learning to be content but this time the “more” I am asking for is Christ.


Summer 2011



Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

Love, your girl forever,

♥ Miss Daisy ♥