TV & Radio. He has injured us;now he will bandage our wounds.In just a short time he will restore us,so that we may live in his presence. What Does It Mean to Turn the Other Cheek According to the Bible? It is neither by the principles of godliness nor by the ordinances of divine grace that we are saved. Some of them need a word of encouragement, and you are the only one who can give them that word. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. It is only by following the Saviors example to persist through adversity that we can become the people the Lord needs us to be. What am I to learn from this experience? You see them where you work, and you live next door to them. It is harder for some than for others, but we all must cope with being imperfect people in an imperfect world. No one can ever live a Godly life without the grace of God! Here we find one important explanation. Do you think that the Christian life is hard? We don't know anything else. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) said this week that she is "truly" qualified to preserve U.S. freedoms because she is a Christian."My number one job is to secure the rights of Americans and make sure . Within a few months, she couldnt talk or move. Have you acknowledged the reality of sin? Jesus got right to the point with Nicodemus: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). When hard times come . As Lizzy patiently endured the trial of her cancer, she followed the example of Jesus Christ, who endured with faith beyond mortal imagining. It was His relentless pursuit of me as I turned my back on Him that showed me the depth of His love for me. We get some insight into this by looking at Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and jewish religious leader. If God lives your life for you, then it's easier for you to live like Christ. Likewise, our Heavenly Father did not put us on earth to fail but to succeed gloriously.6 He wants each of us to plant our roots deep in His gospel and finish the race, no matter how difficult the course. The key is to follow His lead and to engage in correction and redirection of your steps as needed. And often He allows us to experience challenges to help us grow. But there is more to this matter than our faithful appropriation of the truths and promises of Gods Word and the enabling grace that he ministers to us by his Spirit. The head of the line is actually the back. Its a question that does not admit of an easy answer. The true context in which we face the challenges and difficulties inherent in our pilgrimage of faith is one composed of trials and triumphs, sorrows and joys, pains and holy pleasures. True Identity: Finding Significance & Freedom Through Who You Are in Christ by John Majors. will lead you into blind alleys. He essentially said "you will be hated if you follow me" (John 15:18,19). But I believe in that great day, when all the secrets are revealed, we will discover that we would have fallen but someone prayed for us. Allow that understanding of who God is and what he's done for you to motivate and inspire you to present your body a living sacrifice to Jesus and give your life to him. Because this world truly is broken and corrupted. Here are some reasons given on why living the Christian life seems hard to some people. The first (physical) birth that all human beings experience results in us being born as human beings - ones who have the presence of sin in our human nature. There's no point considering the Christian life until you've made that decision to have your sin dealt with by God himself. We would put him in his crib, and then Marlene would go to bed exhausted from the cares of the day. Aren't Christians nice people? We humans have no hope in ourselves for salvation from sin, because there's nothing we can do to save ourselves. Our affliction produces a third benefit . What exactly is a Christian and how do you become one? But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, anda thousand years as one day. No, Christ breaks the distinction down in extremely practical terms. Life Is So Hard Because This Planet Really Is Broken and Hes Giving the World Time to Repent Before He Makes All Things New. In the first verses of the first chapter, we discover a perspective on the heartaches of life that may help us. Whatever it was, the Corinthians knew about it and they understood that Paul thought during his ordeal that he was going to die. . Use it as a means to minister to others. And men and women of faith have found them true throughout the centuries. Well, thats fine too. Regarding context, the Bible alerts us to the fact that it is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! IN HIS LOVE THANK YOU ALL WHO ARE PRAYING FOR ME, AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT HELP TO ME IN THIS SITUATION! It might have been some sort of serious physical ailment. And if Job never got a complete answer, what can I expect? Why this? Through prayer we unleash the power of heaven for the problems we face on the earth. Trials can give us purpose in our lives. Billy Graham Library. As you help us by your prayers. When God radically saved Paul in Acts 9, he then sent Ananias to help him mature. Accidents, disasters, illness, heartache, lossthe ways that the human heart can suffer are myriad. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God . In addition to the Holy Spirit, God gives other means of grace to influence the believer in thinking like Christ and to live the Christian life: So then, if we have the Holy Spirit and the various means of grace, why isn't the Christian life easier? Jesus calls us to come to him and promises us that he will give us rest. Registered in England and Wales 5090917, Christian Today, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN, 'Sound of Freedom' No.1 movie in USA; Faith-based film beats Disney's new 'Indiana Jones', Synod's Alpha and Christianity Explored snub. Although the Old Testament does have the Ten Commandments and another 613-strong list of commands in the law of Moses, it's not about the rules themselves! Paul was given a new nature to live like Jesus, but he recognized the battle raging within, because of the old man inside. To endure faithfully, it is essential to accept Gods will, even if it is not what we wanted. November 14, 2016 Does Christianity Make Life Harder? This is where being born again comes in. Chuck Colson went to prison and out of that harrowing experience he founded Prison Fellowship. In pondering this, maybe you've found yourself thinking it might help to know the answers to these next two questions: These aren't easy questions to answer. How Can We Create a Culture of Inclusion at Church? Indeed, the most godly believers have sometimes wondered about the ways of God. Eventually I would go to Joshuas room and pick him up. An Unexpected Answer But there are answers. Have you ever had something happen in life and you could clearly see how God had been preparing you? As I fell on the floor of my bathroom, I cried out a prayer of surrender--and my life has never been the same! But when we look at it from the right perspective, we realise that it isn't hard since we are blessed with the grace of God (see John 3:3). Cancer is not easy or fun and it is not good in and of itself. Life Is So Hard Because This Planet Really Is Broken and He's Giving the World Time to Repent Before He Makes All Things New Much of the hardness of life has nothing to do with what you did or did not do to cause that hardness. Soon after, Lizzy quietly passed away. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promiseas some count slowness, butis patient toward you,not wishing that any should perish, butthat all should reach repentance. Being a Christian is difficult because we must now confront our lives from a different worldview that comes with a new set of valuesGod's values. Your sin offends, dishonours, and infuriates God. Perhaps before going any further it may be helpful to come up with a working definition of faith. All rights reserved. Have you ever asked yourself this question? Hi, I'm Mark Ballenger and I'm so happy you've come to ApplyGodsWord.com. Yep. On this episode of "Now Boarding," Leslie and Erin discuss why airplane boarding can be so complicated and what airlines are doing to make it faster. It makes up about 75% of the universe, and so dynamically holds it all together that NASA calls dark energy the "glue" of the universe. No, he would do far more. Yetbecause you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you (John 15:18,19). Can I really do all things through Christ? The power of the Holy Spirit to produce Christian living in you is unleashed as you read and obey God's Word. The ones who understand God's ways MUCH better than I do. And what is the Christian life? And if we want to receive the crown of life in the future, we have to remain faithful to God during the trials in our present. Article Images Copyright . They are perpetual gripers when things get difficult. As we receive comfort, we are equipped to minister to others. A believer turns from sin, confesses his sinand his guilt and shame, and calls on Jesus for this new birth to be born again to eternal life. It's a gift. What does it mean to rededicate your life to Christ? Life is not supposed to be easy right now because we are at war for our own souls and the souls of lost people. God is glorified in our lives when we accurately represent his character to the watching world. Why? It was my own choices, my sin, that revealed how much I needed the gift of His forgiveness given to me on that cross all those years ago. BGEA is a registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. You work in concert with the Holy Spirit to become a right-living Christian. We would have given in to temptation but someone prayed for us. Our bodies can get injured, become mentally and physically ill, and die. The sinner needs to be made new and "rebooted" without sin's penalty. Why is this? This has all been very unreal and we are leaning heavily on God and all the people He has placed around us to support us as we walk this road. PASTOR DAN JOHNSON, our guest speaker, is a former high school teacher and current youth pastor from Simcoe, Ontario. Photograph of bristlecone pine (similar to the one called Methuselah) by Scott Bufkin. We ought to pray for others, and we ought to give thanks together when our prayers are answered. Why is the Christian Life So Hard? Psalm 34:19, What?!?! I wasnt a good singer by any means, but my singing seemed to help settle him down. With a broad smile and a bald head, she bravely told her curious friends about her cancer and said that Heavenly Father would help her get well. While the Bible is clear that the tribulations of the saints can be many, varied, and at times exquisitely painful and profoundly perplexing, the Word of God is emphatic in stating that all of our pains serve useful and sanctifying purposes in our lives. . We would have given up but someone prayed for us. When I asked how the cancer had impacted him spiritually, he said that now he feels more relaxed. But rest assured there are answers to both of these questions and there's hope and victory to be had in both areas. You work in concert with the Holy Spirit to become a right-living Christian. God has ordained that our prayers matter. This is why the devil trembles when he sees, the weakest saint upon his knees.. Christians are a new creation of God. And if you face these trials with the right mindset, you will find the blessings are far greater than any pain this life can throw at you! I know that prayer sometimes seems futile because we think we need to do something. Praying is fine, but how about if we bake a cake? Hope in God, and don't run after other gods. Your only problem is that you dont see them. Like bristlecone pines, we can also grow stronger in difficult conditions, if our faith is firmly rooted in the soil of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Look to bless them. Life Is So Hard Because God Is Giving You Opportunities to Glorify Him. I feel like life is so hard as a Christian, like it would just be easier to reject God. "The way is hard that leads to life," He said ( Matthew 7:14, ESV ). Now--just for good measure--take a severely disabled child who is reeling from overwhelming changes in her life and toss it into the mix. We are still here on this sinful and broken planet. The Bible says that "it is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (see Galatians 5:1). But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. About thirty minutes later Joshua would begin to cry. 8, 2016), byui.edu. Do not tell others why you think they are suffering. At the same time, this freedom should not be used to live according to our fleshly and sinful desires. We understand normal pressures and we learn how to deal with them. Methuselah is not only the name of the longest-living prophet of the Old Testament but also the name of one of the oldest living trees in the world. I began to desire His way over mine. The key to living the Christian life is not something, but someone: The Holy Spirit. Reach out to your pastor or confessor, and get an in-person meeting to talk to them about it. There's no point considering the Christian life until you've made the decision to have your sin dealt with by God himself. Our own poor choices can also bring suffering. Our bodies can get injured, become mentally and physically ill, and die. What have I done to cause this? At Christmastime, while awaiting her own chemotherapy at the hospital, Lizzy played Christmas carols on her violin for the other children awaiting treatment. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort (vv. We, too, need friends that we can share our hurts and pains with ( Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ). Please click here to learn how. In the midst of this new season of life as we were attempting to navigate the changes and the trauma, I wrote a very vulnerable blog post about the trials we were facing. We are to live our lives loving others and to tell others about God. A victim believes God has abandoned him. See RobertD. Hales, Behold, We Count Them Happy Which Endure, Ensign, May 1998, 76. If you choose to let the old sin nature win, then the Christian life is not easy. Why? Will the Archbishops allow General Synod to speak? And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Most of us would not raise our hands and ask for extra helpings of adversity, but with the Saviors help, we can learn to face trials with faith and come out stronger for it. Would I please call the family? The ones who are WAY more spiritual than I am. So we ought to pray more, not less in times of trouble. What happens to us is less important than how we react to it. A student sees Gods hand in everything, including the worst moments of life. Why is life so hard? Recently, I was reading an old blog post from when Roy and I were first married. And it is to wounded men and women that God has committed the great ministry of sharing his love with others. Know that the people who hate you ultimately desperately need you, the message of hope and salvation, and your love and patience with them. The Supreme Court Friday ruled in favor of a Christian web designer in Colorado who refuses to create websites to celebrate same-sex weddings out of religious objections. When I am hated and despised, he stands by my side. True Identity: Finding Significance & Freedom Through Who You Are in Christ by John Majors. 2 Peter 3:7-10 explains: But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. Hatred. Truthfully, I'm not sure I was convinced of God's goodness until I experienced His healing, His gentleness in the midst of the trials of this life. A human being needs a second birth: a regeneration (John 3:3). But remember that it's temporary, and it's a journey. Some look at it from the wrong perspective. Although Scripture informs our prayers, we do not pray to the Bible, but to the living God who has revealed himself to us in Scripture. A Guidebook for Every Phase of Christian Singleness, But what is happening right now? We never discover the depth of Gods compassion until we get in a place where we need Gods compassion desperately. The Apostle Paul was given a new nature and had the Holy Spirit. I have been crucified with Christ. When we rely on ourselves and try harder, we fail to live by faith and obey God. 4. In many ways becoming a Christian may increase your troubles because of spiritual opposition you face. Surely that touched my heart and my spirit greatly! What's that "something" you have to do to live the Christian life well? Pray that God will bring at least one person across your path who needs the help only you can give. Things that used to bother him dont bother him as much. Thats a prayer God will answer, for there are folks all around you who are just barely making it. When I wrote to tell him that many people were praying for him, he wrote back an email with his thanks. Type in your email address and a copy will be sent right to your inbox. Watch the Billy Graham TV Special. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. Article by Tony Reinke Senior writer, desiringGod.org Dark energy is some kind of cosmic force causing the universe to expand. #1 Okay this is REALLY long, but I'm only going to ask this once. The paperback version is available for $12.99. I've served as a missionary, a pastor, and as a pastoral counselor. Why me? Scripture doesn't say, "The one who misses God's will faces many troubles." It won't last forever (1 Peter 5:10). Why is hardship part of a loving Heavenly Father's plan? RichardG. Scott, Trust in the Lord, Ensign, Nov. 1995, 17. During a dinner conversation with another couple, the husband mentioned that he had been diagnosed with a very serious form of cancer. Why You Can't Live the Christian Life with Wayne Barber. I just feel like being a Christian is just so hard. This is the opposite of a fretful mind, a troubled, anxious heart. Have you turned to him? Part of your responsibility in being saved is also that you turn (repent) from your sin. When hard times come, we only have two choices: We can suffer with God, or But following Christ is the only way to experience true life ( John 10:10; Matthew 16:24-26; 1 Timothy 6:11-19 ). A victim believes his hard times have come because God is trying to punish hm. Someone had died. But its the sort of cancer that often comes back so you never feel totally at ease. If we want to receive we must first ask. Their lives testify that following one's heart can be difficultand so can following arguments . It wasn't pretty, but it allowed me to become who God created me to be. It is that living Word who has reconciled us to God and brought us into his loving family and given to us glorious, eternal, abundant life. Read the versebeforePsalm 34:19. With respect to those in the world who will not accept your Christian living and what you believe, consider what God would want you to do in sacrificing. (Galatians 5:17). It all comes down to what you do with Jesus: Who is he to you? Confide in your ministering brothers and sisters. The flesh (the old sinful person) lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh: Forthe flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another,so that you do not do the things that you wish. You have to remember what part of the larger story we are currently in according to the Bible. We can suffer with the people of God. For when you look at the questions of life and death, and when you consider the problems of this death-sentenced generation, even the most fervent believer looks up to the heavens and cries out, Why? So one reason God is allowing your life to be so hard is because through the pain God is preparing you to receive the promises ahead. One can't enter the kingdom of God, unless they're born again. special july new month prophetic prayers and declarations || nsppd || 3rd july 2023 We don't understand the human heart. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.. I will simply replicate the first and last sentences of that email (including the all-caps of the last sentence): I am so honored to receive your 2 mails about loving and caring for me and my situation! Before we are saved, we accept what the world says without even thinking about it. I mean the Bible says "God's yoke is easy and His burden is light" right? Now Im not a perfect father, but I would do that for my son. A Christian is one who is born again. After a brief greeting to his readers (vv. Isn't that the beauty of the Word of God that isalive and powerful! Contentment means that you mustn't become bitter or angrily lash out at God and others. Their roots fasten like anchors deep in the soil to soak up the few available nutrients. "It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord . You can't do it. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. Growing up, I recall Saturdays where I would literally watch TV all day. Becoming a Christian is wonderful but it does not free you from the burdens of life. And it will be a very deep blessing if through your sickness you discover that Gods comfort is greater than your sorrow. The dead would not be resurrected. Much of the hardness of life has nothing to do with what you did or did not do to cause that hardness. After a harrowing round of chemotherapy, he seems to be in remission. Do we desire to know God, to draw closer to Him? The Lord is close to the broken hearted. I was so angry I didn't want anything to do with Him. Read it daily. You see, Jesus doesn't approve of the religious leaders.
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