1 Timothy 6:6-7 NIV “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”

One of the hardest things in life is to be contented with yourself and what you have. So you waste your efforts lying to yourself—pretending to be what you are not. Stop it.

This hatred, deception and rejection of yourself produces most of the stress, frustration, misery and diseases on this planet. And it’s unnecessary. So, stop it.

What is all this striving to acquire and achieve? What is all this running up and down in confused restlessness? At the root of it is that you hate yourself; you reject yourself. What a terrible thing. Stop it.

Please stop. Stop rejecting yourself. Stop hating yourself. Become comfortable in your own skin. Accept your environment, your past, your experiences, your pains and your joys. They are divine gifts.

Do not seek to be respected, or to be accepted. Do not seek to be honored, or to be loved. Stop stressing to fit in. What a burden. What an unnecessary burden.

Instead, recognize that God made you and loves you just the way you are. His Holy Spirit is already present and at work in you even now. You don’t need to change anything. Just allow Him to show you the emptiness and vanity of achievements.

Let Him help you see His fullness in your nothingness; His wisdom in your foolishness; His strength in your weakness; His beauty in your flaws.

Then His joy will fill your heart. And you will no longer need to strive, nor compare yourself with others.

Then you will will begin to enjoy His rest. And you will soar effortlessly to His glorious heights of eternal satisfaction and fulfillment.