Holy Discontent

I read Holy Discontent by Bill Hybels this week. It’s and inspiring read about converting the frustration you feel about something that is wrong with the world into the fuel you need to do something about it.

Hybels says that you should constantly be on the lookout for that one cause or purpose or problem that “grabs you by the throat and won’t let go.” The stirring situation that causes so much damage to your soul that it brings you to a place where you know you simply must do something.

Your Holy Discontent is the one thing in the world that wrecks you when you see it and it is exactly this one thing that will create enough tension and angst, carve out enough capacity for activism, and stir up enough of an internal firestorm that you’ll have no choice but to suit up and get in the game. It will be the pesky preoccupation that vies for your attention during the day and keeps you wide-eyed at night as it captures your heart and ignites your imagination.

For Hybels it was the “ill-planned church services, uninspired preaching, and a whole slew of Christians who weren’t fired up about much of anything” that he experienced growing up. Hybels knew that there were countless people in his surrounding neighborhood, just like him who desperately needed the infusion of life and hope and excitement that only a biblically functioning church could afford.

He says that the reason it is so critical to dig in and figure out what it is that wrecks you is because you may be the one person God is looking for in order to change some ugly and destructive trends in your generation.

It could be injustice or extreme poverty or homelessness. It could be dysfunctional or slowly dying churches, inwardly focused Christ-followers, or lackluster worship. Or it could be watching over-entertained and under-challenged young people – an entire generation of them – drift further and further away from God (I think that’s mine).

Obviously going after your Holy Discontent will not be easy, and will require a great amount of risk. But if something is worth giving your life to, it will inherently involve a high measure of risk. Hybels book is a call to embrace this risk and fight for your holy discontent.

Comments

[Bob Stewart]

Mom and I are reading this as well. It's
a great book!