Many women today struggle with discontent.

I admit, even I have wrestled with discontent in the past and sometimes still do. It’s a universal and persistent problem in our culture. I have wanted more things than I had, wanted my husband to change, wanted to escape a difficult situation, wanted to be somewhere else.

We can be discontent with our job, our spouse, our home, or our own body. The problem is that as we continue to wallow in discontent, time passes; precious days, weeks and months, even years, go by and before we know it, we have missed so much of life, waiting—and hoping—for whatever lies just over the hill. The reality is that what we think is a greener pasture, may only be a stark, dry desert, a murky swamp, or even a steep and treacherous cliff.

Meanwhile, we miss all the beautiful moments in life that are everywhere around us, if we only we had eyes to see. Beautiful moments like: the look of joy and wonder in our child’s eyes, our husband’s strong and loving arms around us, a clear spring day under a blue sky, the laughter of our family around the dinner table, a walk with a friend, a sudden earth-cleansing rainstorm.

These simple yet profound moments spread out before us like diamonds on a forest path, put there by the creator for us to gather and treasure in our hearts. Unfortunately, we too often miss them as we focus on what we do not have, comparing ourselves and our situation to others around us.

Discontent blossoms when gratitude fades.

If we can begin to walk through our days in thankfulness and gratitude for what we do have, and realize how blessed we truly are as children of God (sealed for eternity, destined for heaven, surrounded with God’s amazing love and presence), then discontent will begin to fade away—just as the distant echoes of winter give way to the joyful bursts of spring. Our eyes will be opened to the beauty found in the simple things, in every new day, in every season of life.

Discontentedness is a tool of satan, that robs us of the joy found in this life—the joy that is meant to reflect Christ to a lost world.

Begin today to look for the diamonds God has scattered  along your path. Pick them up and treasure them. Live life with gratitude.

Enjoy every moment to the fullest, being thankful for where God has placed you today. Trust him with your tomorrow. Be content.