I have learnt to pay attention to discontent.

I don’t mean moodiness, or heaviness or the general out-of-peace-ness of a few bad days.

For me, discontent is usually the beginning of change. Typically, three to five years into a job, life situation or location, a shift starts happening inside me. Things that weren’t an issue before start irritating me, people and attitudes begin working on my nerves, and potential for me to advance and grow hits a ceiling.

When it starts happening, being the good, godly girl I am, I ask God to give me peace, to help me identify and deal with whatever issue inside me is causing such dissatisfaction and to help me get over myself.

But sometimes the feeling stays, and more things start messing with my head, more things test my patience, and then the wheels start coming off. Things break, people lose their cool and nothing goes according to plan.

Instead of assuming that it is always the devil trying to get a foothold, I have come to recognise discontent as one of the ways in which God speaks to me.
It usually means it is time for me to move on, to leave the comfort zone and have a little more faith. When I get it right, I lay the discontent at His feet, pray for wisdom and guidance, and open my heart and mind to the possibilities.

But I am not an adrenaline junky and, while I am not afraid of change, I usually err on the side of caution. So, sometimes I keep ignoring discontent or I learn to live with it – especially if the change would significantly affect the lives of my family.

When I get it wrong, or I am a bit slow in catching on, I believe God sometimes lets my situation become intolerable – so the decision to break away will override my instinct to hold onto something that is no longer good for me and my people.

In my experience, what lies on the other side of discontent is better, the next step. And once I have taken that first step – whether it be handing in my resignation, putting my house on the market or cutting ties with toxic relationships – the discontent fades and a fresh seed germinates.

While it has happened that something falls into place immediately, mostly there is a time of waiting. For me it is seldom long, but it is scary, and it usually goes with lots of declarations and reminders on my part of God’s Word and promises for my life (Psalm 145:13). It always requires a step of faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) and a redeclaration of my belief that He has got this.
I have also learnt to recognise the time between the ‘activating decision’ and the new season, as connection time with God and to get my business in order. To sort out my personal administration and do stuff I would not have time for in my new season – such as volunteering my time at a non-profit organisation.

And then, as the changeover moves into the new season I can look back in relief and appreciation that God had steered me throughout (Romans 8:28). My part was to be willing and open, to not just hang around and do nothing in the waiting and to express my belief that He will come through for me, as He always has.

So, if you start feeling discontent creeping its way beyond life’s ordinary niggles, pay attention. Ask God to give you discernment for your discontent, so you will lean into His direction and not just float around in an increasing state of bitterness and anger. If it’s just you having a moment, ask Him to give you peace with where you are at, and commit to excellence because the quality of your work is a testimony (Colossians 3:23).

If it’s more than that, ask God to show you the next step, affirm to Him your desire to seek His kingdom first (Matthew 6:33), and ask Him for several confirmations from different sources. Once the confirmations start coming, and they will if it is from Him, start moving – because a ship in motion is easier to steer and God will direct you (Psalm 37:23-24; Proverbs 16:9).

Unless it is a Damascus or a “Follow Me”-Jesus-type moment, your first step of faith will probably be quite manageable – like updating your CV or getting your house ready to put on the market (Luke 16:10).

It might take a while for all of it to fall into place, and your attitude and trust may be tested, but it will not be in vain. Being in the place where God wants you, even if it is in the waiting, is the only right place for you to be.

AMEN

This column, written by ATHANE SCHOLTZ©, first appeared in A Vivid Life blog by Suria Scholtz.