Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Ecclesiastes 6:9

We’ve all witnessed a child, who without warning, launches into a complete meltdown right in the middle of a store. Their parents refused to give them the candy or the new toy they so desperately wanted, and overcome with frustration and disappointment, a full-blown tantrum ensued. The ear-piercing screams are hard to ignore, and beyond embarrassing for the horrified parents, but young children can’t think rationally when powerful desires tug at their hearts. Perhaps that is what God sees in us when we want and want and want some more. Though we don’t end up screaming and flailing in the aisles of grocery stores, we have our own “tantrums” when we aren’t content with what He has given, and we look for what else might make us happy. We live in a constant state of dissatisfaction, and no amount of “candy or new toys” ever seems to satisfy.

In a world that encourages comparison, it’s easy to set our hearts on everything we don’t have, rather than thanking God and enjoying the things we do have. We look around at all of our stuff and only see what’s missing, but what we really miss are the countless gifts God has already given. When we seek, crave, and desire more stuff, the only things we gain are more desires, more cravings, and less peace. Jesus has already given us more than we deserve, more than we could ever earn, and His grace truly is enough.

As Thanksgiving approaches, rather than comparing what you lack with what others have, start adding up God’s blessings in your life. Start a gratitude journal and list every single one! If you add one blessing to your list every day for the rest of your life, you will never run out. Because your heart will never stop seeing new ones to count! When you compare your possessions, your appearance, your success, or even your failures and sin to anyone else, you will never find joy, contentment, or peace—because a heart that compares is a dissatisfied one. When the things of this world tug at your heart, don’t have a silent tantrum. Instead, fix your eyes on Jesus, add a blessing to your list, and turn your thoughts to your treasures in heaven. Then quietly grab ahold of your Father’s hand, and get out of the store. You are loved! 

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