Grass is greener syndrome

Sometime back someone I know mentioned “the grass is greener" syndrome to me. I was like “Hmm, interesting.” Then in my curious ways, I did some research on it.

This is how a psychology website describes it…

“The hallmark of the ‘grass is greener syndrome’ is the idea that there is always something better that we are missing. So rather than experiencing stability, security, and satisfaction in the present environment, the feeling is there is more and better elsewhere, and anything less than ideal won’t do. Whether it’s with relationships, careers, or where you live, there is always one foot out the door.”

Here are some examples of that type of thinking… “When I get that job, I’ll be happy.” “When I get married, I’ll be happy.” “When my kids grow up, I’ll be happy.” “When I achieve my destiny, I’ll be happy.” “When I start that business, I’ll be happy.” “When I move to that location, I’ll be happy.” “When I finish school, I’ll be happy.” “When I get to this level of fitness, I’ll be happy.” (The reality is when whatever you want to happen happens, yes there will probably first be ecstasy but then boredom and then you’ll look for another challenge… some people call that negativity bias)

We naturally do this to attach an even greater value to our goals. It gives our minds an ultimatum. “Mind, either we do this or get this or we die here.” It’s probably a biological thing. Back in the day, if we didn’t hunt animals, we’d die. If we didn’t produce babies, we’d go extinct.

I think that it’s a toxic/unbalanced way of achieving our dreams. The other extreme of that is being okay with mediocrity. There’s a midpoint where we have a dissatisfied satisfaction. A hungry fullness. A slow speed.

Learning presence just as God is present. Jesus never rushed. He was always cool and at rest. He manifested another realm.

When Abraham was waiting 15 years for his promised son Isaac, I don’t think he was trying out the 101 breakthrough prayers, fasting on the highest mountain or breaking curses off his life day by day. I think he was laughing with Sarah (who according to Genesis 18 had a good sense of humour), enjoying God, persuading people to believe in Him and eating goat’s meat and pilau on a daily basis.

Deuteronomy 18:11-14 For this commandment which I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far away. It is not in heaven, that you could say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us and get it for us, and proclaim it to us, so that we may follow it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you could say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us and get it for us and proclaim it to us, so that we may follow it?’ On the contrary, the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may follow it.

The Word is another name for Jesus.

Revelation 19:13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God.

So what that scripture in Deuteronomy is saying is that God isn’t over there. He’s not up there. He’s here.

True love, joy, peace isn’t on the other side of our goals/promises. They’re here.

A lot of people are waiting to go to Heaven for love, joy and peace. What if it was possible to live in levels of glory similar to Heaven? What if we could bring so much of Heaven down to Earth that parts of Earth could be one with Heaven while others are still in darkness?

Isaiah 60:1-3

Arise, shine;

For your light has come!

And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,

And deep darkness the people;

But the Lord will arise over you,

And His glory will be seen upon you.

The Gentiles shall come to your light,

And kings to the brightness of your rising.

What if it just takes a little faith?

From faith to faith, from glory to glory in the midst of our circumstances.