If Only . . .

12 hours ago
3 min read

One of Satan's most effective tools to distract and disable you is planting two words in your mind: "If only." Maybe you've heard them before. Maybe you've thought them before.

Here are some common examples.

If only I hadn't messed up.
If only I had more money.
If only I had a spouse.
If only I had an easier job.

What is your "if only”?-

I think we all wrestle with our own version of "if only" on some level.

If we're not careful, those two little words turn into the soundtrack of our lives. Sometimes the enemy simply whispers, "Your life would be better...if only." And before long, gratitude is replaced by discontentment.

There is a man in Scripture who had the opportunity to test every imaginable "if only." His name was Solomon. If anyone should have been satisfied, it was Solomon. He was the wisest man who ever lived. He possessed unimaginable wealth. He built magnificent homes. He had influence, power, success, gardens, possessions, accomplishments, and pleasures beyond what most people could ever imagine. If anyone could have said, "I've finally found what satisfies," it should have been him.

Yet as you read Ecclesiastes, you discover something surprising. He keeps reaching the same conclusion: "Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless."

He pursued pleasure. Ecclesiastes 2:10 says, "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure." Yet afterward his conclusion was, "This too was meaningless."

He accumulated incredible wealth. Ecclesiastes 5:10 says,

"Whoever loves money never has enough." Again...

Meaningless.

The world whispers:

More money.

More positions.

More recognition.

But I have been reminded this week that contentment is found in Jesus Christ, and Solomon echoes the same truth.

At the end of Ecclesiastes, Solomon finally arrives at his conclusion.

He writes, "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13) Love God, respect God, and obey Him.

I am also reminded of Paul in Philippians 4:11-13.

"I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In every circumstance, I have learned the secret... I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The word “Learned” jumps off the page to me this morning - Paul didn't say he was naturally content.

He learned it.

Contentment is learned.

Gratitude is learned.

Trust is learned.

Joy is learned.

Contentment doesn't mean pretending life is easy. It doesn't mean denying pain. It doesn't mean we never long for better days. It doesn't mean family won't lose family members. It means our deepest satisfaction is no longer tied to our circumstances or people. It is rooted in Christ. Our satisfaction in this life comes when we are rooted in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Everything else is a gift.

Our spouses are gifts.

Our jobs are a gift.

Our health is a gift.

But those gifts were never meant to become our source of joy. They point us to the gift giver. A great spiritual discipline that I am learning is replacing "If only" with "Even when." "If only" focuses on what is missing. "Even when" focuses on the God who is present. "If only" breeds discontentment. "Even when" grows faith.

"If only I hadn't messed up- even when I fail, His mercy is new every morning.

"If only we didn't have to worry about finances..."

We can remember, “Even when finances feel uncertain, our Father knows exactly what we need.”

Friend, maybe today the enemy has been whispering,

"If only..." But I believe the Holy Spirit is whispering, “Even when”

What about you?