On Wanting a New House

Life may be a bit easier for me if I was not a realtor. Don't get me wrong, I love my job. But with it comes the revolving door of keeping up with the Joneses. The shiny new kitchen, the charming character of an older home, the expansive size of a home in the suburbs...there is always something luring me to discontentment with our little almost 50 year old home. And I don't say little for nothing ;) Our family fills our house to what seems like the brim. Our counter space is always lacking enough space for me to feel like I can prep, cook, and plate a single meal for our family of six. We need an office, we want an extra bath, we wish we had a family room. I could go on and on.

And then of course with my job, I always have the new, the prettier, the bigger in front of me. I feel a bit like a hamster on it's exercise wheel, always spinning in my mind with what we could do or where we could be. It is an exhausting practice to always want something different than what we have.

I long for the peace of loving and trusting where I am. I long for the rest than accompanies deep content. When I am still, I can almost taste the wellspring that contentment offers. It is in my frantic forgetfulness, that I run in the opposite direction of that deep well of living water.

So much of my own discontentment is not believing that I am where God has me. I truly believe that God works all things for the good of those called according to His purpose. I truly believe that God has established where and when I am. I trust His goodness and His wisdom. I trust His sanctifying hand...but I so want differently. And on top of all the things I know to be true about God - we own a lovely home. We have wonderful neighbors. We live in a "Mayberry" type neighborhood. I truly have no reason to want differently. But, oh my fickle heart!

How kind that the God of the universe would know our heart's struggle and provide both instruction and comfort!? He has not only armed us to fight the temptation of giving into discontentment but given us more than we deserve. He has given us Christ, His spirit, and His word. In Hebrews, the writer tell us

" Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" "

We aren't told to be content and then given nothing. God has freely given us His Son, He has freely given us example after example of God's good, wise, and timely provision to His people throughout the years in His Holy word. My fickle heart may forget; it does!

I forget that God is enough. That while I may not have all I want, I have all I need in Christ. I forget that while I may not be moving into the shiny new build, Christ is preparing a place in His Father's house for me (and you)! I forget that He hasn't left me out. I forget that I need not fear, because He is with me.

Have you ever forgotten the good things you have? Have you ever found yourself constantly discontent and living in bitterness? You are not alone. I constantly forget to count my blessings, to be content, to be thankful. I pray we can look up with clear eyes to all the good in our lives. The good in our houses, the good in our season, the good in those around us. I would love to share the journey of finding contentment with you. Godliness with contentment is great gain. I pray we can walk in the goodness and peace of contentment together and be thankful. :)