Key to my (Happy) Heart

"God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him"- John Piper

I often catch myself saying things like, "Well when I get to _____  point, when I have _____ , when I become _____ , then I will be content."

I'm sure you can easily fill in the blanks as well.

But true contentment is not found in the absence of trials. It is not found through achieving our hearts desires. In fact, it is often the opposite. Most times, those who have seemingly everything by the world's standards are the least satisfied.

My personal struggle with contentment is often a direct result of stress. When I allow stress to overwhelm me, my focus shifts from God and my identity in Him to my present situation. But when I release my anxieties to God in prayer, He is faithful to fulfill His promises.

"God does not give us everything we want, but God does fulfill all His promises, i.e., God remains the Lord of the earth, God preserves the Church, constantly renewing our faith and not laying on us more than we can bear, gladdening us with Divine nearness and help, hearing our prayers, and leading us along the best and straightest paths to holiness. By God's faithfulness in doing this, God creates in us praise for Him alone."

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer,  from his Nazi prison cell

The world constantly pushes us to seek the antidote for our discontentment through products, through adventures, through comparison to others, or even inner reflection. But God calls us to look elsewhere. God calls us to look to Him alone.

Here are three simple questions to help determine whether your desires align with that of service to God's kingdom, or personal gain:

1. What consumes your thoughts?
2. How do you spend spare time? Or are you a workaholic who never seems to come by any? Time is the most precious of commodities and the way you utilize it reflects what you are seeking.
3. What do you desire most? What do you want to see God do with your life?

Your reaction to your financial situation; your reaction to your appearances; your reaction to your possessions; your reactions to trials, obstacles, and disappointments are your testimony to the world. Is yours one of contentment, displaying your rested assurance in the power and grace of God?

Remember, money can't buy it and lazy satisfaction can't provide it. Real, true contentment is an attitude of the heart found in Christ alone "in redeeming relationships with one another, rejoicing in the Lord always, and releasing our anxieties to the Lord in prayer with thanksgiving in our hearts."