Most people are searching for something in life – it can be pleasure, an important job, status, more money, for people to like them, for things to become “better” in their life etc., and usually God is not included in this. But what is life really like?
Do I really understand that this is life?
The truth is that I am here, in my normal daily circumstances, with the family I have, the work I have, the health I have, my finances, the country I live in. Days come and days go. Do I really understand that this is my life? These normal days that come my way?
Maybe I feel that my circumstances are hard. But God has planned them, He knows my limits well, He knows who I am, and His love for me is extremely great. He had a plan for my life already before the foundation of the earth was made, a detailed plan so that I could come closer to Him. So that I can seek Him and get help. So that I can realize that I need help, that it doesn’t work to keep chasing this world’s pleasures and status, and at the same time try to serve Him.
Jesus came to this world to do God's will. Now we should do the same as His followers. (Hebrews 10:7.)
And if we realized what possibilities we really have when we follow Jesus, then we wouldn’t even think to try to avoid the situations we are placed in. If we could just get our eyes opened to see the heavenly powers that are at work around the world to give strong support to those whose hearts are fully committed to the Lord (2 Chronicles 16:9), and also the rewards that wait for those who are faithful!
Read more: Do you know what God’s plans for you are? and Chosen by God: What are we chosen for?
Everyday challenges become meaningful
That is actually what reality is! As disciples of Jesus we are called to do God's will and overcome sin. (1 Peter 2:21-24.) Overcome the sin that came into the world by the fall, the sin that tempts us to be irritated when we feel stressed, to look down on others who are not as smart as we are. Or which deceives us with dreams of pleasure and greatness without seeing the real problem: the pride and discontentment and all other sins that live within us and that make us so unhappy with our normal daily circumstances.
God has given us everything we need — He sent Jesus to show how to overcome these sins. He has sent the Holy Spirit to guide and help us in all our everyday situations. He has given us His Word as a guide for our lives. We just have to believe in it and make use of it.
Faith means action. It is to be obedient to God's Word and His will, in all the trials that come up every day, obedient to say No when I am tempted. And to believe that I, despite everything I've done, no longer need to give in to the sin that lives in me! When things are difficult, when someone thinks I should have done a better job, when I’m tempted, then I shall no longer be unhappy and complain! I need to be freed from sin, only then I will get true happiness.
When this becomes my greatest wish, then God is there to help me — He has promised this. “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NLT).
Read more on how to fight sin and overcome in our daily circumstances: Fighting sin: It doesn't have to be difficult and How should we fight against sin?
