008: Contentment | A Common Struggle

Do you ever find yourself struggling to find joy in your circumstances? Does gratitude feel more forced than natural? You may be suffering from discontentment and you’re not alone!

Keeping a contented heart is a common struggle, especially here in the United States where we are bombarded with advertising all around us that continually tells us to just buy one more thing.

To help us cultivate gratitude in our hearts this Thanksgiving season and all year long,  our latest episode of “In the Meanwhile” focuses on the heart issue of contentment.

Page and I have a few laughs in this one but still manage to get right down in the nitty gritty of what it means to be content and how we can make steps toward true contentment.

We hope you’ll take time to listen to our show and share your thoughts either in a comment below or in our Facebook Group, Meanwhile Moments. 

SHOW NOTES:

Three Reasons Why We Struggle with Discontentment

1. We have unrealistic expectations.
2. We compare ourselves with others.
3. We covet when we want what isn’t ours.

Seven Steps Toward Contentment

1. Trust in the One Who changes hearts.
2. Express thanks.
3. Be patient.
4. Focus on eternity.
5. Develop discerning eyes.
6. Love people and use things. Not the other way around.
7. Count your blessings.

FREE RESOURCES

Printable Quote. In this episode, we quoted our friend Mary Ann who said, “Lord, help me to want what I already have.” Now that’s a quote worth printing! You can print this illustrated PDF and trim the image to fit in a 5 x 8 frame and you’ll have a constant reminder to be grateful for what God has already given us.

Download the artwork here.

What does it mean that godliness with contentment is great gain? GotQuestions.org has a solid answer for us. 

Counting your blessings. Page referred to this uplifting song from the well-loved Christmas movie, White Christmas.  Hint: If you count your blessings instead of sheep, you’ll wake up counting your blessings!