An Unhappy Woman

I have mentioned that I am in the midst of Beth Moore's Breaking Free study. The following quote, from this week's homework was the catalyst for a great conversation today.

"Hearts not surrendered to Christ can seldom be trusted. Until we surrender our hopes and dreams to Christ, we really have very little way of knowing what will fulfill us.
Most women who are banking on circumstantial contentment find themselves in emotional bankruptcy sooner or later. Unhappy women are not made happy by marriage. Unhappy women are not made happy by children. An unhappy woman usually needs a change of heart more than a change in circumstances."
-Beth Moore, Breaking Free

Wow. And Amen.

There is no way to address every situation appropriately with a broad statement, but for the most part I think Beth is right. Throughout Scripture contentment (regardless of our circumstances) is discussed.

The most unhappy people I know are the ones who spend all their time comparing, competing, trying to look or play the part of an image they have in their mind about the way life is supposed to look.

The most joyful people I know are the ones who have different goals. They are the ones who look for God right smack in the middle of wherever He has them in this season. They trust God enough to know that if He has allowed this (whatever this happens to be), He will redeem it, use it and be glorifed in it.

Those are the 'Joneses' I want to keep up with...

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less.
That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God.
He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right.
Then you can see God in the outside world."
~ Matthew 5: 5-6, 8 The Message