Turning Off Auto-Pilot and Turning on Contentment

I've noticed a theme in my life every September--I wrestle with contentment. It's at "back to school" time each year that I suddenly feel gaping holes in my heart that just long to be filled--a desire to teach, a desire to have a full-time job, a desire to be in Africa now, not later.

Thankfully, I'm able to name my struggle--it's a struggle with contentment, because it allows me to battle it. I only had to look back to a blog I wrote a year ago to find the exact same struggle, with some amazing words of encouragement right from the Bible:

"6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:6-12

Ahh, yes, wonderful words of life. Words I need to hear, as it seems like our "uphill climb to Angola" is taking much longer than I hoped for, as we are running thin on new contacts, as I face dissatisfaction with job details or daily routines in life. The reality is, we will never find contentment or satisfaction in the fleeting things of earth, but to always keep a heavenly mindset--setting our hearts on godliness--is a massive task that takes much prayer and much focus. It takes us "turning off" auto-pilot and deliberately lifting up our struggles to God, coming to Him in thankfulness despite our feelings, and trusting Him despite our limited, human understanding.

So, if you are reading this, please pray specifically for me (Kelly) to keep my focus on God, and not on the things of this world. Likewise, I know some of you struggle with the same thing, so I will lift you up in prayer. Hopefully we will both turn off the auto-pilot (letting life control us, and instead, letting God walk us purposefully through life) and turn on contentment found only in Him.