But, my friend, I ask, "Who do you think you are to question God? Does the clay have the right to ask the potter why he shaped it the way he did?" (Romans 9:20 CEV)

I think we've all asked God why we are the way we are. We've all had issues of self-doubt and various insecurities, and we've all wanted to be more like someone else. The grass is always greener on the other side, as they say, and we are all convinced, to some degree, that if we were prettier or smarter or funnier or wealthier that things would all be better. We strive and work toward being the way we want to be, and wear ourselves out trying to mold ourselves into another shape that we might like better. So God, why are we never satisfied with ourselves?

I think one reason God made us so keenly aware of our own weaknesses is so that we will not allow ourselves to be complacent. God loves us as we are, but desires for us to be more like Him; in order for that to happen, we obviously have some work to do. God wants us to be aware of our own faults so that we can work to improve ourselves, leaving sins and shortcomings behind us as we try to become more like Jesus. This is the process of sanctification, and ideally, we'll all undergo a great change because of it.

I think, too, though, that God does not want us to look on ourselves so disapprovingly. God wants us to see how wonderfully and beautifully and lovingly we were made, and He longs for us to embrace who we are so that we can take full advantage of the strengths and gifts He gave us. Why can't we do that? The enemy knows that he cannot do anything to thwart our salvation, but he can cripple us and keep us from reaching our potential in the kingdom of God. He points out all of our weaknesses in order to convince us that we can do nothing worthwhile, and we live up to the potential he convinces us we have. In a sense, we are under attack, and it is up to us to decide whether we will crumble under pressure or if we will stand our ground, resting in the truth of who God says we are.

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Why aren't we satisfied with who we are?

For me the answer is usually that I am not walking with the Lord. Life will coast by and then I realize my discontent with who I am, what I am doing or not doing. If we would strive to daily spend time in the Word, have an active prayer life, we would find more satisfaction with ourselves. Apply Ephesians 6:10-18.

When you are walking with God do you ever sense that you are experiencing more trials than others? It makes sense that Satan will target active believers more so than unbelievers. If he can ruin your testimony and rob you of your joy in Christ, you no longer have a chance to witness to others. Remember that your lack of satisfaction, joy, excitement, etc. does not come from the world, but in knowing you have eternal security through salvation in Christ.

Read Joshua 1:6-9, 1 John 2:15-17 and Proverbs 3:5-9

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Dear God, why am I never satisfied with who I am?

I have always struggled with issues of self doubt, self worth, and why I was made the way I am. There are a lot of different things that contributed to it I guess, as we grow we are taught that being different is bad, taught to compare ourselves to those around us, and by the time we reach adulthood it is almost natural to try to figure out our position in life relative to our the people around us. I don't think that quite explains it though, why is it that we compare ourselves to begin with? How is it that we decide what is "best"? For me at least it is rarely a real standard. It may be smarter, faster, thinner, stronger, closer to God, better at prayer, or any number of other things, but what they all boil down to is being better than I am. Which again is simply not being satisfied with myself. Well, I've put some thought into the question and this is what I get. That every human being is more or less unsatisfied with themselves implies that we know that something better than ourselves must exist. Second, that we have not given up on trying to improve ourselves, and are never satisfied with our improvement implies that we know that this something better is possible. Finally, for myself any way, I am convinced that if I ever saw this perfection (because that is what it is), I would know it, without any doubt. So what does it all mean? I would say that we were not created to be the flawed broken creatures we are. Within us there is a spirit that takes no account of the earthly body and strives for what it once had. It would seem that it is only natural to be dissatisfied with who you are, the question is whether you can accept that and continue trying to improve. For me that is a challenge, but I know that God promised to be with us every step of the way, and that He won't push us beyond what we can bear; and that is satisfying.

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"Dear God why am I never satisfied with who I am?"

When I think about this question my first response is "That question doesn't apply to me because I am satisfied with who I am." But when I sit back and think about it I realize I am not satisfied with whom I am. So now I'm back at square one.

I think if there was one chapter in the Bible that helps me to see why I am never satisfied with whom I am its John 15. John 15 talks about Jesus being the vine and we are the branches. Think about that for a second... can the branch live if it is not attached to vine? Can a pine branch live if you cut it away from the tree? I hope you said no. As the pine branch can't live away from the tree neither can we live away from the vine which is Jesus.

I think this has a lot to do with me never being satisfied with who I am. I am constantly cutting myself away from the vine and trying to live. It is impossible to do this. You see when I cut myself away from the vine I am cutting off my source of nourishment and satisfaction. In Matthew 5:8 Jesus says "those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled." He is saying those who remain in Him and live a life pursuing Him will be filled or satisfied.

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~ Are you God-conscience or self-conscience?

~ Where are seeking to find your satisfaction? Is it in God or is it in you?

~ God calls us to lay aside all of ourselves and pick up our cross and follow Him (Matt 5:8). This is the way of the cross. It is not a desired journey but it is a journey that will lead to life. It is not a journey of ease but rather it is a journey of hardship. There is no other to find true life. It is only from the Cross of Jesus. Is this where you are seeking your satisfaction? Or are you seeking your satisfaction in yourself, in your job, in your in relationships, in popularity, you get the idea. Are you seeking satisfaction in other places than God? If you are then you are not going to be satisfied.

~ This week seek to be satisfied in God and God alone and see what happens.

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