It’s that moment where you watch someone else get something you didn’t, or when you don’t achieve the same goal at the same time as someone else. Or maybe you sat in front of a mirror or on your phone & spent too much time wishing you were someone else. If I’m being honest, I’ve done all three more times than I can count.
As humans, we’re so busy & focused on only keeping up with the Joneses. We allow our lives to be consumed by what others are doing around us, instead of living our lives (aka all social media!!!). I can accurately say that any person reading this post can say they have sat in front of a mirror & while they looked at themselves; they slowly poked & prodded & wished away every “flaw” or “imperfection’“ they thought they saw. Why do we say things to ourselves that we wouldn’t say to our dearest friends? Why do we trample our opinions of ourselves thinking that one day finally feeling ‘worthy’. Here’s a newsflash for you:
Did you roll your eyes after reading that, or say “well obviously, she hasn’t met me”? ‘Cause if so, sister (or brother), take a big ole’ step back & read that again! Throughout the next couple paragraphs, I’m going to unpack a few statements & ideas that have allowed me some freedom, & have truly allowed me to become more content in who I am.
Well, in Audrey’s terms, it’s the ability to be happy in the circumstances your in, even though they may not always be ideal. If you wanted a dictionary definition, here’s that too:
con·tent·ment (noun)
1. a state of happiness and satisfaction.
2. ‘long lasting happiness’, but a deeper feeling of satisfaction and gratitude
Kinda may or may not have been what you were expecting, right? But let me tell you why I love the word ‘content’ over the word ‘happy’. The word ‘content’ means I am filled with gratitude as a daily part of my life. Now this doesn’t always mean that my life is roses & sunshine & joy! When I say ‘I am content’, I am able to truthfully say that I am full of satisfaction & grateful for the life that I live. But even more than I am grateful for the life that I have, but I am grateful for the life I have been gifted with.
Your unique beauty is a unquestionable example of His talent & love for you. So let me ask you a question: why are you unhappy with yourself? Why are you unhappy with this beautiful life He’s placed you on this earth to live? It could be we’re taught that we’re not perfect, & we will never be. We’re taught to never stop, never slow down, & to never stop searching for ‘happiness’.
Let me let you in on a secret though: sit down & allow yourself to be wrapped in the love & peace that only comes from falling into the arms of Abba Father. You want purpose? Chase after Him, there is immeasurably more to know of Him, immeasurably more of Him to fall in love with. But also, if He’s created you, why do you think He’d leave something out? When you are unhappy with what you are given, you’re looking up at the Father & saying “why isn’t that me?”. The problem with not being content in who you are in Christ is that if you aren’t content in His plan for you, you aren’t content in Him. He knows our timing, He knows us better than we do! He did create us after all.
I promise I don’t think that social media IS the Enemy, but it is one of his tools. Anyone else a big Instagram fan? If so, you know that on someone’s page, you can look at their “Highlights” for their stories, which I kinda find ironic. When you think about it, the whole page is a ‘highlight reel’ of someone’s life, & you want to know why? Because this world is afraid to face the brokeness that is a part of our humanity. We’re human, aka we are broken. The Enemy tricks us into thinking that we are alone in our brokeness, & that we shouldn’t share that part of our lives. By hiding our humanity, we isolate & pick ourselves apart, only showing the parts of our lives we think would make us look ‘normal’. We are taught that by being ourselves, brokeness made whole, we shouldn’t love that person. We shouldn’t love the honest, the raw, & the real.
So, we got to the part of the conversation I have the hardest time with, loving myself. See, here’s the thing: we all have people who love us, & we think that feels good. We settle for that feeling because we are unsure of how to lovingly & graciously accept the slightly flawed human in the mirror. But here’s the good part: we were born of love. We were created by a God whose very existence is that of love. So when we lean into Him & the grace He provides, He accepts us. We are called to “love God, & to love people”. You’re a ‘people’. You were called to love & be loved. But you can’t wholly love someone for who they are, until you accept that you are just as worthy of love & grace as they are!
Here’s the takeaway of this whole message in a little sentence or two: Contentment comes from Christ, & when you aren’t right with Him, you’ll never find that joy & love you’ve been searching for. So, here’s to loving you! Take the next few days, & dig deep into the Word. Allow yourself grace. Stop picking apart the reflection in the mirror, & thank your beautifully unique body for everything it does for you; & take a moment to thank your Creator for putting you on this earth. I’m sure happy you’re here, & I can’t wait to see what stories He uses you to tell.
Sep 10, 2020