This should come as no real surprise for me though. God said the world is only a temporary place for us. It is not meant to be perfect or even comfortable. People consistently strive for happiness and joy when God promised us, as Christians, that life would be filled with pain. God's will doesn't always consist of peaceful fields filled with fragrant flowers. God wants us to grow in him, and growth is always synonymous with pain (ever heard of growing pains...not the show with Kirk Cameron playing Mike Seaver). God doesn't expect us to understand it, enjoy it, or even be content with it. All he wants is for us to consistently strive to be closer to him through faith. Jesus himself struggled with this topic. Just before being arrested, Jesus spent the night praying harder than any man probably ever has. He begged and pleaded with his father for another way. He didn't want to endure the physical, mental, and spiritual suffering and pain that was about to come. His body was torn by whips, pierced by spears, thorns and nails, and bruised by the constant beatings he had to endure. His emotions were leveled by the rejection of his own people who screamed "crucify him, crucify him." His spirit tested by the sin of every person to ever live. Jesus didn't enjoy any of this, and he wasn't content with what was happening. However, he kept his faith in his father and finished what he was sent here to do. He saved us and gave us the only way to a better world. He calls us to follow in his footsteps. All it takes is faith.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Recent Revelations
I've always had a tendency to publish my life to those I know. I've learned to use open communication as my way of coping with the issues that present themselves in my life. But I've realized recently that my ways are flawed. Expressing my concerns about friends, family, career...mostly life in general to others around me does little to correct the shortcomings I've noticed about the world. Plus, it can appear that all I do is complain. Building lasting relationships is difficult when all I do is express how much the world has let me down.
This should come as no real surprise for me though. God said the world is only a temporary place for us. It is not meant to be perfect or even comfortable. People consistently strive for happiness and joy when God promised us, as Christians, that life would be filled with pain. God's will doesn't always consist of peaceful fields filled with fragrant flowers. God wants us to grow in him, and growth is always synonymous with pain (ever heard of growing pains...not the show with Kirk Cameron playing Mike Seaver). God doesn't expect us to understand it, enjoy it, or even be content with it. All he wants is for us to consistently strive to be closer to him through faith. Jesus himself struggled with this topic. Just before being arrested, Jesus spent the night praying harder than any man probably ever has. He begged and pleaded with his father for another way. He didn't want to endure the physical, mental, and spiritual suffering and pain that was about to come. His body was torn by whips, pierced by spears, thorns and nails, and bruised by the constant beatings he had to endure. His emotions were leveled by the rejection of his own people who screamed "crucify him, crucify him." His spirit tested by the sin of every person to ever live. Jesus didn't enjoy any of this, and he wasn't content with what was happening. However, he kept his faith in his father and finished what he was sent here to do. He saved us and gave us the only way to a better world. He calls us to follow in his footsteps. All it takes is faith.
This should come as no real surprise for me though. God said the world is only a temporary place for us. It is not meant to be perfect or even comfortable. People consistently strive for happiness and joy when God promised us, as Christians, that life would be filled with pain. God's will doesn't always consist of peaceful fields filled with fragrant flowers. God wants us to grow in him, and growth is always synonymous with pain (ever heard of growing pains...not the show with Kirk Cameron playing Mike Seaver). God doesn't expect us to understand it, enjoy it, or even be content with it. All he wants is for us to consistently strive to be closer to him through faith. Jesus himself struggled with this topic. Just before being arrested, Jesus spent the night praying harder than any man probably ever has. He begged and pleaded with his father for another way. He didn't want to endure the physical, mental, and spiritual suffering and pain that was about to come. His body was torn by whips, pierced by spears, thorns and nails, and bruised by the constant beatings he had to endure. His emotions were leveled by the rejection of his own people who screamed "crucify him, crucify him." His spirit tested by the sin of every person to ever live. Jesus didn't enjoy any of this, and he wasn't content with what was happening. However, he kept his faith in his father and finished what he was sent here to do. He saved us and gave us the only way to a better world. He calls us to follow in his footsteps. All it takes is faith.
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1 comment:
Brandon's a blogger!! I will be a faithful reader. Hope you're having a great week!
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