The Lord fills in the gaps

Failure, lack, inadequacy, all these characteristics can be hindrances or they can actually be tools for our spiritual growth. So why any discontent among believers? And when one is discontented, has a gap so to speak in their soul, what next?

I've lived long enough to have had this happen a few times now (the situations will remain anonymous to protect the innocent). My first bout with discontentment lasted way longer than I ever could imagine. I was thrown off guard and didn't know what was happening. But I was just blind, immature. Yet in it all, God's grace washed over me and in time I learned to take those opportunities to grow spiritually.

When I'm tempted to be discontent with something, I must ask myself, is this a real or a perceived problem? Just a thought from experience: Deal with real problems by seeking God's wisdom, but drop perceived problems, and always, always be in prayer (I Timothy 5:17). Like anything, maturing takes time, but those long gaps of silence and ambiguity have a way of tempting us to saying or doing foolish things. The book of James is a great one to meditate on to hang in during any tough time.

When my soul is unsettled, the following has never failed me: Pray, get close to God in fresh study and do my best to listen to others without filters from past experience. What has never helped me is to think that if I could just change others/a situation [using my present understandings of Scripture without bringing my new unsettled situation to God in humble study and prayer], that then the world will be set aright [and a "little" benefit to me is that I'll finally be happy].

My husband John is a construction manager and a gifted carpenter. He uses the old carpenter's motto, "measure twice, cut once." I say this first for me, but feel it worth sharing. It is wise as well in spiritual growth: Think twice [as well as pray twice, study twice, meditate twice, and as John says, two ears, two eyes, one mouth so as to] speak once. And let the Lord fill in the gaps.