The Cure for Discontentment (Part One)

What does it mean to be discontent? Biblically, discontent means a deep dissatisfaction with God's provision and rule in your life, stemming from a lack of trust, doubting His goodness, and wanting something different or better than what He's allowed, essentially prioritizing personal desires over God's plan, often leading to grumbling, worry, or sin. It's the opposite of biblical contentment, which finds peace and sufficiency in God, even in hardship, by recognizing His ultimate goodness and trusting His providence. The believer’s unhappiness, discontentment, and view of God are directly linked. Discontentment shouts, “You deserve better!” and whispers, “God is not giving you what you deserve.” The former shouts are blatantly false, but the latter whispers are profoundly true. The devil is the master of mixing lies with truths. It’s a lie that you deserve better. The statement also assumes that you know what’s best and that God’s gifts aren’t best for you. The lie leads you to believe that you’re wiser than God and interprets his direction for your life as uncaring rather than a mercy and gift. It’s true that God is not giving you what you deserve. We deserve God’s wrath, yet daily we receive new mercies. Be encouraged!

Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible teacher & expositor