A Life Worth Living

When people plan their future, they always take into account best case scenarios. No one plans to be miserable. It just doesn't happen.

But the reality, things happen. Following your dreams, or even following God's will for your life does not prevent suffering. Things happen all of the time. People die, marriages end, tragedy sweeps in, and it's often not your fault. You didn't disobey God or make a foolish decision, but suffering will find you.

So now it's your life. The worst thing you could imagine happening, happens. God didn't cause it, didn't prevent it, but did allow it. Don't get confused, I'm not asking "what if?" or even "why?", I'm asking you, now what? You're miserable. Your life sucks. You'd rather die than live through this. Now what? God is still good, right? How do you know that?

These things happen EVERY DAY to godly people.

Just look at Paul. He was imprisoned several times, almost beaten to death, lived a horrific life in terms of comfort and prosperity, but this is what he says: "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord... But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ..." (Phil 4:1-8). Paul here is saying that despite it all, he counts it as joy. His life, although undesirable, he thought to be joy.

It is impossible to teach someone the joy of the Lord. Impossible! Paul's words revealed his joy, but it was his honest response to a life relationship with the Lord. He didn't look to find joy in these situations, he simply found it. I don't understand exactly, but I now know the answer to the first question.

In these situations and times of suffering, we will only count it as joy because of our intimate relationship with the Lord. Not even what the bible says about God will carry much weight in these situation if we do not KNOW His character in our own lives. The experiences of other people won't prove a darn thing. Only if you know God. Only if you know that He is good, not only in your head, but in your heart.



Religion is being stripped from me. I am SICK of saying what's "right" or "biblical." We are people of relationship, not ritual. If I am angry, I can be angry, and still be a living witness. I can be sad, and still be an example of true joy. It is WHO I AM that is the light, not WHAT I DO. WHO I AM is what makes the difference, not WHAT I SAY, or HOW I ACT. There are no laws to define my relationship with God. All there is, is His will and me, in it. I am going to become more like Him. It will happen, and in that I will develop the character. It will not be trained into me. Instead, God is loving me into His image and likeness. I am in the river of His will, and I need not strive, because I will simply move with the current.

And I have never felt so alive, so free, or so in love!


Oh joy! That I long to know You! That rules and legalism are thrown out forever! That all things are lawful, and You will show me what's beneficial. That though I am imperfect, You took care of that at the cross --Died at Calvary to bring me back into intimate relationship with You! Oh joy! I am with You! I am Yours and You are mine! Never has it felt so real! Oh joy! You accept me wherever I am, and look forward to teaching me, revealing Yourself to me!