Barriers To Contentment

In Weeks 4 and 5 of Freedom From Emotional Eating, the issues of discontentment and anger are discussed. I have already posted on each of these subjects, but I felt the need to expand on these subjects. I called this entry Barriers to Contentment.

Philippians 4: 11-13, .I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

We have to find our place in Christ in order to be content in every circumstance, and we can reach this place through the power of the Holy Spirit or the Word of God would not command us to. How did Paul do this? He drew on Christ's power for strength. We must do this too because we cannot be content on our own . It is against our human nature.

We find true contentment in looking to Christ and then looking at what we do have instead of what we don't have.

Let's look at some mindsets that can keep us from being content (I got these from Freedom From Emotional Eating, and I added some things I feel the Lord gave me.)

1. Expecting someone to make you happy.

Whether it's a friend, co-worker, spouse, pastor, or any spiritual leader, we must stop making them responsible for our happiness. These people cannot make you happy. They will fail you at one point or another.

Stop blaming other people for your dissatisfaction. If you are dissatisfied, look inward. Something needs to be surrendered to the cross of Christ. As Barb Raveling said in Freedom From Emotional Eating, "We need to give up our have-to-have attitude." We must be willing to live for our God no matter what circumstances He has placed us in.

There's nothing wrong with asking God to change circumstances, but if He doesn't, don't be bitter. God is all-sufficient. I am not saying this with any malice because I still struggle from time to time with this. I have to be reminded that Jesus is the only one who can bring complete fulfillment.

Looking for other people to make you happy sets these other people up as an idol in your life. God told Moses in Exodus 20 that He would have no other gods before Him.

2. I Don't Think I Should Have To Suffer

"I should not have to put up with this..."

"I should not be inconvenienced like this.."

"I should not have to wait..."

We need to get our minds off ourselves. Philippians 2:3-4. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

When we put the needs of others ahead of our own needs, God will meet ours.
I truly believe these mindsets cause emotional eating and other problems. If our focus is not on Christ, by our nature, we will look for something to fill us.

3) Having Unrealistic Expectations of Others

If you are a perfectionist, you get irritated at those who are not. If you are well organized, you get irritated at those who are not. If you are always on time or even early, you get irritated at those who come in late to church or some other function. You may even get angry when someone doesn't agree with you. You may get angry when people don't do things the way you would have.

We have to learn to give people to God for change. Then we have to learn to let go of those things that may just be a personality clash. Everyone is not just like you. God made us all to be different.

Matthew 7:1-5, Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

4) Your Self-Esteem Is Dependent Upon The Approval Of Others

If you depend upon the approval of others for contentment, you will get angry or upset when criticized or if someone does something to embarrass you. If you NEED people to think well of you, this needs to be surrendered to Christ. We only need His approval.

Reality time: People are not going to approve of everything you do. You are going to mess up in front of people. Your children and your family are going to mess up.

No one is going to think well of us all the time.

Genesis 1:27 tells us that we are created in God's image. Genessis 1:31 tells us that everything He created is good. Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-14 tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Romans 8:1 tells us that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. I John 3:1-2 tells us that we are His. We are being made like Him. He is purifying us.

We are the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. If we are saved, He approves of us. If we are right with Him, the opinions of other people are not to be our focus.

As Sons and Daughters of the Most High God, let's remember who we are in Christ, and let go of our approval addiction as well as our food addiction. We have an awesome God and none of these things I have discussed are impossible in Him.

Romans 5:1-5, Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.