There are all kinds of Christian self help books out there designed to assist the troubled Christian with their faith walks. There are books out about spiritual dryness, restlessness, SSA's in the church, dealing with temptations, marriage, divorce, living single, being alone, prayer....the list goes on and on. I suppose there are a few good ones out there, but not many in my opinion. I see them as all falling short. They all seem to give similar and simpleton answers to complex issues and while they will use scripture to support their approach, I find they fail to really deal with whatever the problem really is.
I would say, as a man that has suffered many spiritual problems, that many times the problem is not the real problem. The problem is actually spiritual weakness. I am not trying to be cruel or unsympathetic to the plight of those suffering. I suffer too. But really, that is the point.
The answer is not that we fail to give the problem to God. I have heard that so many times that I want to scream, "shut the f___ up". (And no, I do not have a problem with cursing.) It is not that we lack desperation for God or that we do not have enough faith or that we are unsubmitted to Him.
I think that the real core of all spiritual issues, whether sin related or otherwise, is a lack of personal endurance and discipline. Many of us are just weak from years of living too well or being coddled by the local God Botherer. We do not know what it really means to suffer, and so when we do, we do not deal with it well.
The early Christians of the 1st century understood suffering. Most of them were deprived in about every way from a material standpoint. They did not have much time to be depressed or discouraged or unhappy about their personal lives because they had to focus on survival. Dealing with the urge to sin or a desire give up the faith fight was a daily thing for them. Many of them knew that if they would just bend with the times and do what everyone else was doing, they could live better and survive, perhaps even doing well.
They steadfastly refused to do this. Instead they clung to their faith and endured their hardships with discipline. They never asked, "why doesn't God do something?" or "why should I fight so hard to remain faithful?" They endured with discipline their troubled times and some even went to their deaths for the faith. They knew that better days were coming. They really believed in resurrection. Most importantly, they knew that this present life was just a shadow of the one coming.
James encouraged them in this.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Perseverance and self discipline. We have to keep praying and stay in the Word no matter what trouble we find ourselves in. I'm not saying fake it. I'm not saying wear your troubles on your sleeve. I am saying be real with God, with your brethren and do everything in your power to live right no matter how you feel.
That's tough. Been there, done and doing that, got the T-shirt. It's tough. If you do it, you will be tough. Together we can make it to the end...did I say end...the beginning of the journey. Let's do it. I love you. See ya in church.
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Be Gentle.