The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ~ Jesus Christ
Holy Discontent
Let us in all the troubles of life remember that our one lack is life–that what we need is more life–more of the life-making presence in us making us more, and more largely, alive.
When most oppressed, when most weary of “life,” as our unbelief would phrase it, let us remember that it is, in truth, the inroad and presence of death we are weary of.
When most inclined to sleep, let us rouse ourselves to live.
Of all things, let us avoid the false refuge of a weary collapse, a hopeless yielding to things as they are. It is the life in us that is discontented. We need more of what is discontented, not more of the cause of its discontent.
Discontent, I repeat, is the life in us that has not enough of itself, is not enough to itself, so calls for more.
He has the victory who, in the midst of pain and weakness, cries out, not for death, not for the repose of forgetfulness, but for strength to fight, for more power, more consciousness of being, more God in him.
The true man trusts in a strength which is not his, which he does not feel, does not even always desire. He believes in a power that seems far from him, that is yet at the root of his fatigue itself and his need of rest–rest as far from death as is labor.
To trust in the strength of God in our weakness; to say, “I am weak; so let me be. God is strong”; to seek from him who is our life, as the natural, simple cure of all that is amiss with us, power to do and be and live, even when we are weary–this is the victory that overcomes the world.
~George MacDonald (1824-1905)
Have you listened to the voice of your discontent?
