Longing for What You Already Have

The Restlessness That Won’t Let Go

Darren Hardy once shared a parable that hit me in the heart.
It was about a successful, happily-married, middle-aged woman who just… felt something was missing. Life looked great on paper, yet a quiet restlessness kept tugging at her soul.

In the parable, a character in similar circumstances sets out in search of paradise. He leaves everything behind, determined to find the missing piece.

Days later, he stumbles into a place that feels like paradise—peaceful, beautiful, deeply fulfilling.

And then, the twist:
He discovers he never left. He’d accidentally returned home.

Only now—because of his focused search—he saw his familiar world with fresh eyes.
The same place became a new paradise.

🪞 The Shift That Changes Everything

Hardy’s point was simple but sobering:

“Many of us long for something we’ve already achieved.”

That truth resonates with me deeply.

I’m happily married. I’ve got four amazing adult children and one lovely grandaughter.

We have fantastic friends. We live in a comfortable home. Our finances are healthy.
I have meaningful work that aligns with my calling.
It’s everything I once prayed for…
And yet—some days—I feel that same vague ache.

That whisper:
“Is something missing?”

Maybe you’ve felt it, too.
That unsettled wondering. That urge to chase something more.

But here’s the question I had to ask myself—and maybe you do, too:

❓Am I in the Middle of My Own Paradise?

Is it possible I’m not missing anything… just missing perspective?

Maybe the “something more” I crave isn’t out there—it’s right here, buried beneath the noise, waiting to be seen with new eyes.

There’s nothing wrong with growth.
There’s nothing wrong with dreaming.

But maybe, just maybe, we need to pause long enough to ask:

What if I’m standing in answered prayer—and I’ve forgotten to notice?

📖 A Kingdom Perspective

This reminds me of what Paul wrote:

“Godliness with contentment is great gain.”
—1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV)

Contentment isn’t complacency.
It’s clarity—a deep recognition of the goodness already present.
It’s not the end of progress, but the foundation for it.

I still believe God has more for me—spiritually, relationally, and missionally.
But I also believe He’s already given me so much—and it would be a shame to miss the beauty of now because I’m staring over the fence.

🔍 Reflection Questions

Take a moment. Pause. Reflect. Journal if you can.

What parts of your life today were once answered prayers?
Are there blessings you’ve stopped seeing clearly because they’ve become familiar?
What’s one way you can shift your perspective and see “home” with fresh eyes?
Do you feel invited by God into deeper contentment—or new growth? Or maybe both?

🌿 Final Thought

If you feel that ache for more, you’re not alone.
But before you go searching for paradise, look around.
You might already be there.

Sometimes what’s missing… isn’t more.
It’s the eyes to see what’s already here.

#HopeCorner #VonaSolutions #FaithfulPerspective #GratitudeReframes #ParadiseAtHome #ContentYetCalled #AnsweredPrayer