Bible Passage: “Then, because so many people were coming and going that (the disciples) did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” (Mark 6:31 NIV)
Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 9:7-10
Let’s face it: if men really want to, they can find reasons to be discontent every day of their lives.
This world is broken. We were never meant to find our full satisfaction here; that is reserved for Heaven.
As C. S. Lewis wrote, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”
While that is certainly true, if men really want to, they can also find reasons to be joyful every day of their lives.
Recently, I was feeling quite tired because of the pressures of my job and the pace I had been keeping. I wasn’t happy about that and found myself feeling discontent about everything.
During that time, I had a music rehearsal scheduled where I was playing guitar.
Almost from the very first note, I started to feel my spirit lift. We rehearsed for a little over an hour, and by the end of it, I was walking on cloud nine. My whole outlook had changed. I felt more contentment toward all the other things in my life.
Jesus knew about this in today’s passage. He and His disciples had been working hard, too. He knew they were tired and that tiredness can breed discontentment. He also knew they loved spending time together when the pressure was off.
So, Jesus suggested they get away from the crowd so they could be alone together and just relax. This wasn’t the first time He did that; He liked to get away with His disciples.
I think it is wise to find the things that bring you contentment. Maybe it’s going for a walk in the woods. Maybe it’s heading to the gun range to fire a few rounds. Maybe it’s taking a drive with your wife.
Let the things that naturally bring you joy positively affect how you feel about the things in which it is harder to find contentment.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank You for providing much in this life that brings delight and joy. Help me remember those things. Help me find the time to do the things that bring me life so that I can increase my contentment in every area. Amen.
Reflection: What are the things that bring you the most joy and happiness? How can you incorporate more of those things into your life?
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