HOLY DISCONTENT

What about that phrase stands out to you?

Recently, I gave a benediction in worship that used the phrase, “May you have Holy Discontent…”. A few people asked if they heard me correctly. They did.

Context. A few years ago, I heard this “non-traditional” blessing, and it stuck with me:

May God bless you with discontent with easy answers, half-truths, superficial relationships, so that you will live from deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, abuse, and exploitation of people, so that you will work for justice, equality, and  peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort  them and to change their pain to joy.

May God bless you with the foolishness to think you can make a difference in this world, so that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done.

This blessing has stuck out in my mind because I have come to understand, as followers of Jesus Christ, our hearts should break for the world, as does Christ’s. If we are becoming like Jesus, we should grieve and be unsettled at the events and state of the world around us. This means we should expect the “blessing” of discomfort and discontent.

This really is a blessing because we get to see the world in its broken, hurting, helpless state AND we get to see the work of God and the presence of God in the midst of suffering and turmoil. Because of the blessing of discomfort, we get to experience the leading of the Holy Spirit guiding us to do something, with him, for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven and the world around us (…on earth as it is in heaven…).

Our mission should always to seek to leave the world better than when we came into it. We should never be complacent or indifferent to the needs around us. We should always be striving for the Kingdom of Heaven and all its glory all around us.

Now, I do say “holy” discontent because this is a sense of completeness, of perfection. This is God’s perfect love filling us so we have the complete, whole, holy mindset of God as we go into the world. It is only by the grace God gives, the power and presence God gives, and the abilities God gives through the Holy Spirit we are able to be part of this mission and make an impact that will last into eternity.

So once again, “May you be blessed with Holy Discontent until you step out in faith and reach a world in need.”

I’d love to hear how God is using you and what you are doing for the transformation of the world to be more like the Kingdom of Heaven.

Let’s pray together, the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, and the Wesley Covenant Renewal Prayer, together.

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil,
for thine is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.

“I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”