There’s a game I love to play with my grandkids where I hide a treasure and they leave the room and count. Then they have to come back and hunt for the treasure. While they hunt, I tell them if they are hot or cold (hot means they’re close, cold means they’re not anywhere near the treasure). 

Ruth Chou Simons wrote, “We are all treasure seekers”(1). We run after treasures of love, acceptance, affirmation, wealth, and rich experiences.  Seeking treasure isn’t wrong. Our hearts were designed with the desire to crave. Often there is a gap between what we want and what we actually acquire. How we steward that space is critical to our contentment.

What is the treasure you are seeking? Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). 

Paul wrote in Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Christ.” Later in Philippians 4:11, Paul wrote that he had learned the secret to contentment. 

What was Paul’s secret? In a nutshell, he set his heart on the treasure of Jesus. 

How do we live a satisfied life in our hurried, fast-paced culture?  

Nurture Your Friendship with Jesus. What do I mean? Spend time with Him. It’s meant to be a friendship and friendships take intentionality. So be intentional. Spend time in prayer, worship, Bible reading, and silence. Learn to carry on a conversation with Him throughout your day so that you are ever aware of His presence.

Embrace Your Unique Calling. Our propensity to compare robs our contentment. Don’t try to live someone else’s calling. You have a unique calling and life story to live (Ephesians 2:10). Live the life God has called you to live with purpose and passion. Don’t be swayed and pulled in a thousand different directions. If you’re constantly looking around and comparing your story to someone else’s you are going to miss the beauty of living your own life. 

Cultivate Deep Connections with Others. Those who enjoy deep connections have been proven to live a more satisfied life. They have discovered the treasure of friendship. At the end of your life, you will not wish you had more possessions, but you might wish you had deeper connections. Those connections take intentionality on your part. So put the effort into your relationships. If you are wondering how to begin to cultivate deeper connections, read the book of Proverbs. There are so many key verses on friendship that touch on loyalty, forgiving and covering offenses, not taking advantage of friends, affirming your friends, and many other tips. 

Friend, life is short. If you want to live a satisfied life, go after the right treasure. Nurture your relationship with Jesus, live in the lane of your unique calling, and cultivate deep connections. 

Hey Friends, I am now booking my 2024 speaking calendar. I’d love to come and speak at your conference, retreat, or women’s event. You can contact me at becky@beckyharling.com 

New Resource for You to Enjoy with Your Friends! Rooted Joy has just been released and is a perfect resource for your girlfriend gatherings this summer. It’s short and easily enjoyed together, either as a 4-week book club or a girlfriend weekend retreat!

This week on The Connected Mom Podcast we’re chatting about letting go of perfectionism in motherhood with Alicia Michelle, an author, speaker, certified NeuroCoach, and host of the award-winning podcast The Christian Mindset Coach.

Sources:
(1) Ruth Chou Simons, Beholding and Becoming, (Eugene, Oregon; Harvest House Publishers, 2019), 82