Raise your hand if you want to be an unhappy Christian! I didn’t think so. I’m going to assume not one hand was raised. And that is as it should be. But in truth and reality—there are way too many of us who are very unhappy—raised hands or not.
Just so we are on the same page, I’m not talking about a
season of sadness or grief because of a loss in one’s life, but rather a
lifestyle of unhappiness that some have adopted.
Prayerfully you had a chance to read last week’s blog, “What Are the Lies You Believe?” and it
helped you pinpoint a lie or two that has been the root of grief and or sadness
in your life.
Today I want to focus on the unhappy lifestyle of the
Christian.
I think some of the biggest culprits for unhappiness in the
life of a Believer is a lack of understanding of who God truly is—what the
finished work of the Cross entails—and an unwillingness to agree with God, “aka”
disobedience.
Some of us are unhappy and miserable because we had great expectations
when we got saved that God would be like the fictional character Santa Claus,
and lavish us with gifts and fix all our problems. Well, it didn’t happen that
way and now we are disappointed and disillusioned.
As babes in Christ we latched onto the prosperity message,
and devoured the “how to” books. We gave money with high hopes of checks in the
mail—the big house on the hill with a beautiful new car. We followed the 8
steps on how to get close to God, yet no matter how hard we tried to follow them;
we didn’t feel closer or saw any changes that indicated God was even listening
or interested. Then we saw a book that promised to give us the secrets or keys
to what we have been looking for.
Again…they haven’t produced what they
promised. And now we find we are the same miserable and unhappy person we were
before Christ.
Now what?
Well, for one, if you are a babe in Christ….I suggest you read
only the Bible. New International Version (NIV) is a good translation to start
with. And if you want something to go along with it…The Amplified Bible is a
good cross reference. Just you, the Holy
Spirit and your bibles. If you have questions pray for revelation and someone
to talk to who knows the Word and can help you. But we all only know
in part and it is the Holy Spirits job to decipher the scriptures for us.
There are many books written by Christians (though they mean
well), which are not good books. I have learned over the years, it is best that
we stay away from books that have steps, secrets, keys or formulas to them. No
matter how well intended, they are just not good. Why? Because there are no
special keys, no secrets, or 10 steps and formulas concerning the Kingdom of
God, Salvation or the finished work of the Cross. Study your bible—simple.
I’m not saying to not read books, but certain types of books
we should just pass on, and others we need to have some Word in us already so
we can discern what is for us and what is not.
But then there is something very important we must do with
our studying—agree with what God says and then do it! James tells us, not to
just be readers or hearers of the Word, but we must be doers also.
Yup, this is hard for some of us. We don’t want to forgive.
We don’t want to respond in love to those who mistreat us. We don’t want to
give up things that bring us pleasure, such as sex outside of marriage, gossip
and keeping one foot in the world’s system. And we really don’t want to accept
responsibility or the consequences for our poor decisions and choices in life.
The Bible says there is a joy available to us that will
surpass all human understanding. Jesus tells us that His peace he gave us through
the Holy Spirit and therefore we should not let out hearts be troubled. Is God
a man that He can lie? No. So, then why are so many of us so unhappy?
Truth—we choose to be.
It is by choice we adopt a lifestyle of unhappiness when we
are children of the King and have access to so much.
No matter how we slice it—it takes time, effort and work to
build good healthy relationships. And an intimate relationship with God is no
different. We must be intentional.
God can heal the broken marriage when we give the pieces to
Him and do what He says to do. He can change the heart of the rebellious child,
but we must become the parent He wants us to be.
And the debt you have piled up, well guess what—you just
might have to do it the old fashioned way and pay it off.
We can want what we want, but only God knows if and when we
should have them. Some of us can’t handle half the stuff we beg God for. And we are mistaken to think we can bypass an intimate relationship with Him. We think material things,
a man or changed circumstances will make us happy—wrong!
Life on this earth is hard! And there are seasons when it
seems harder than ever! But once you establish a good, loving relationship with
the King, built on truth, life
becomes astonishing and we tap into that peace, which surpasses all human
understanding. There is a joy in us that others want, and it draws them to
Christ.
So, my question now is, “Who wants to stay an unhappy
Christian?”
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