"There's a man down on earth who needs our help."
"Splendid! Is he sick?"
"No, worse... He's discouraged."
This is one of my absolute favorite parts from "It's a Wonderful Life." So much truth rings through in those three simple lines.
Distraction. Discontent. Discouragement. Three things I struggle with on a daily basis. Three things that keep me from experiencing true joy and contentment in Christ.
Three things that keep my eyes on self...and take my eyes off Jesus.
I have said before that these are three of satan's easiest, most oft used tools to keep us from focusing on Christ and His work for us here on earth. But the truth is, I don't need much help from satan's lies to bury myself in a pit of self-pity and discontent. It takes very little to make me feel overwhelmed and distracted. Both of which quickly place me in a cycle of discouragement.
So I read...and I try to figure out what is wrong with "me". I try to figure out why God isn't following my plan for my life. (That is laughable right there!) I get mad at others for not playing by my rules. I get mad at circumstances for making life harder for me.
Thankfully, God doesn't let me stay there. He gently lifts me up from the heap of pity I've allowed myself to become and points my eyes in another direction. He rips a few of the jaded scales off my eyes and allows me to see the love I am surrounded by. He puts someone in my path who shows me what it means to live for Christ in a relentless pursuit of furthering His kingdom work. He shows me how much I have and how little others have. And He shows me how much happier those with little are because they do something I don't do.
They keep their eyes on Jesus.
They don't fret about what they don't have for next week. They thank God for what He's provided today. They don't whine about their lack of "me" time. They praise God that there is always another task they can complete for Him. They don't search for the next thing that will make them happy. They search for the next opportunity to make someone else happy.
Because their eyes are on Jesus.
They are not distracted. Their focus is Him.
They are not discontent. They know that as they work for Him, He will provide all of their needs.
They don't stay discouraged as they look at the mess of this world because they know that there is at least one concrete thing they can do today to make it a little brighter.
To look at this world through eyes other than my own - that is my plea, Father. To see others through your eyes. To love others like you would. My personal preferences and my personal comfort no longer my first concern. Mold me into this kind of person. A person who will give...not because it will make me feel good but because I want to be your hands and feet here on earth. A person who will sit in any mess and see your beauty through the ashes.
And I will not be so easily distracted. I will be content, no matter my circumstances. And I won't be discouraged... for every little piece of love I can give out, you will give back to me one-hundredfold.
Help me to empty myself of ME and fill myself with YOU - only to give You away piece by piece to a hurting, discontent world around me. For in that truth I will find focus, contentment and encouragement.
