Heart Cry

Matthew 10:5-15
Psalm 1:1-6
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Psalm 39:1-5
James 1:2-12

As we journey through our theme on Questions, we are working through the answers to common questions many of us wrestle in our daily walk. Today’s question is one I’ve found myself asking…and maybe you have, too?

Why doesn’t God give Christians the promise of an easy life,
full of blessings and health?

Woo. Talk about a loaded question. Yet, I’m willing to bet it’s one that many, if not most of us, have found ourselves asking at one point or another. Sometimes we might phrase it in the context of “adulting” (read: why is adulting so hard?!), but our heart cry is the same. I mean, it makes sense, right? If we embrace Truth, have chosen to follow Christ, and do our best to live as Christ, doesn’t it make sense that our lives would be simpler and more pleasant?

In order to gain heavenly perspective and answer this question, we need to ask (and answer) a few more questions.

What are some earmarks of what we might consider an “easy life?”

• A healthy body, free of pain and illness, comes to mind.
• Smooth, conflict-free relationships with our spouse, family members, friends, acquaintances.
• The absence of trauma or abuse, and freedom from inherited familial traits we might wish to avoid.
• An easy life might include realized desires of our hearts, and the ability to do work we enjoy.
• Freedom from unhealthy habits or preoccupations.
• Ample finances.
• Fill in your blank.

To put it simply, most of us would consider a life in which we are free to do the things we want to do, when we want to do them, and in the way we want to do them an “easy life.”

The phrase, “You do you, boo,” is surprisingly apt.

We want to do “us,”
without having to worry about it affecting us
or those around us.

Do you know what didn’t make it onto our list above? Anything eternal.
Does anything else strike you about that list, Love? It is wholly focused on ourselves.

Ouch.

Throughout Scripture, God reveals His ways are not our ways, and those who choose to commit their lives to Him are called to a life poured out in service. As humans, it’s impossible to live with the kind of perspective God has in our own strength, but when we recognize that “our good” does not directly translate to “what we consider as our good,” and allow Holy Spirit to guide us, we’re on the right track.

So, why did God place us here and breathe life into us?

• He designed us to have relationship with Him, and to rule the earth.
• He calls us to seek His Kingdom first, above all else.
• He wants us to listen, hear and obey His commands.
• Jesus said to follow Him.
• Jesus taught we are to love God and others.
• Jesus commanded us to go and preach the gospel

I don’t know about you, but not a single one of those things sound particularly “easy” to me. In fact, they sound impossible, because none of those are things we could ever hope to accomplish on our own! The truth is that the obedience and submission we are instructed to have are only accomplished through the work of complete transformation He does within us when He renews our mind and causes our hearts to burn within us for His Name. 

Our part is to submit every part of ourselves to Him and allow Him to change us from the inside out, which results in that whole heart, whole life conversion that caught the early church on fire – and will spark revival across the globe again.

The bottom line is that you and I, we aren’t called to comfort or an easy life, dear friend. If we believe what we claim to believe, then we must agree that our days here are but a whisper. And if our days here are but a whisper, how can we resign even a moment to anything that doesn’t serve our Father?

Love, don’t read this as condemnation or judgement. Conviction is stirred in my own heart in response to this invitation to submit more fully and embrace the life He has given me.

We are called to honesty, and authenticity. To truth, obedience, and joyful submission, but these aren’t traits we can simply decide to cultivate on our own. They are completely, wholly the work of the Holy Spirit in us as He renews us and gives us the mind of Christ. We have only to say “yes” and let Him do His work. Sister, be encouraged! What freedom and release we can find in that truth!

Father, You are worthy of all my praise. Thank You for the work You are doing, in my life personally and across the earth today. Thank You for never wasting anything. Today, I turn again to You and invite You into every area of my life. All I have belongs to You. Create in me a hunger for You, for righteousness, and to live a life wholly yielded to You. Stir in me a thirst for Your word, and for time in Your presence. Everything I have is Yours. 

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