Breaking Chains - Part III, Embrace the Struggle

Breaking the chains of addictions and sins in our lives is one the hardest thing a man goes through. There is nothing harder then literally changing a habit or lifestyle that has been destructive; ask anyone who has struggled with their weight. Eating is all around us, it is something we must do, and there is no way around eating. People who struggle with their weight have the unfortunate advantage of not being able to hide their struggles, so they must face the world exposed. It’s the same with people who struggle with drinking, smoking or drugs – their outward appearance, smell or sound can insinuate what their addictions consist of.  It’s tough for people who struggle with the obvious; but what about those of us who struggle with the not so noticeable addictions? What if we all wear a sign around our neck that exposed us for our addiction, maybe they would say – “I struggle with jealously,” “…with lust,” “…with greed,” “…with pain,” “…with homosexuality,” “I am an adulterous,” “I am depressed,” “I look at porn,” – I think you get the picture.

A co-worker and I always say that you never know what type of environment or situation people are leaving to come to work. Let’s face it we all have baggage that we carry around from place to place. I see it each and every day. I can instantly tell how someone is going to respond to me before I approach them by their facial expressions or by the way they say “good morning.” I can also tell when I call someone and the way they say their welcoming phrase I can tell whether they are having a bad day or a good day and I am sure people can tell that about me as well. My point is that we all struggle differently and have different pains and hurts; why do we carry around so much baggage? This is not what God offers if you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, right? I am not judging people’s relationship with God what I am pointing out is that what we say means nothing if there isn’t any action to back it up. In the Book of James it is stated that faith without action is useless (James 2:20) and in the Book of Isaiah he says that people make a big show of saying the right things but their actions say another; Isaiah also pointed out that people act like they’re worshipping God but really don’t mean it (Isaiah 29:13) – sound like Sunday service?

No one enjoys pain or fear; however, they play a vital role in our lives and our relationship with God. Most self proclaimed atheist or agnostics are simply mad at God or feel that they have been treated unfairly. Julie Exline, a psychologist, after studying the notion of being angry with God said “Anger toward God often coincides with deaths, illnesses, accidents or natural disasters. “ She goes on to explain that anger with God is not limited to traumatic situations; “[Angry with God] …can also surface when people experience personal disappointments, failures or interpersonal hurts.” (J.Exline, Angry at God? If so, you’re not alone, says psychologist. 2011). Anger with God is something we all struggle with on some level in some time in our live; I’ve had my own moments of angry with God but in those moments of angry it comes from a selfish view point. Anger comes from a selfish view point, we want God or someone to make our lives more enjoyable or comfortable rather than helping us experience the joys, sorrows, defeats and even victories of life. God has been reduced to an instrument to accumulate material blessings to help us be distracted from what God is really doing. Paul discusses this in detail in 2 Corinthians 12; saying that a messenger of Satan was tormenting him and he pleaded with the Lord. The Lord told him that “My grace is enough, it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.” Through our appetite and lure of our sinful nature, the battle to do what is good God wants us to battle through it, to become stronger, smarter, to build testimony to help others with their struggles in similar areas. This is totally backwards of our consumerism culture that offers to remove the pain and fear – to try and distract us from the pain and fear. The materialism truly kills our relationship with God – God explained to use in Matthew that we must not hoard treasure in our lives that can be eaten by moths and corroded by rust or worse stolen by burglars.  The place where your treasure is; is the place you will most want to be and end up being. (Matthew 6:19-21).

We leave in a culture (…and I am convinced that it is no different than biblical days) that determines everything’s value by its usefulness to ourselves. No thought is given to the products we purchase. So much has to happen for groceries to be on the shelves, for cloths to be on the rack, for houses to be built, but most of us act as some magical event has occurred that placed everything right at our finger tips. On the flip side is that once things lose their value or rotten or rip or go out of style we just throw it away and go buy another. This mentality of consumerism has run over into our churches, our relationships and our sinful actions; there is a sense of entitlement that is sweeping over our great nation and most of the world. I ask the question that James asks, where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. (James 4)

Our anger, is deeply planted in our selfishness.  The reason the pornography industry has experienced such success in profits and growth is because the people involved in these acts of sex are looked at as products. Slavery of children, men and women wouldn’t be larger today (approximately 27 million, Barna Group) than any other time in history for the purpose of self-centered mindsets. Once they serve their purpose they are thrown away and replaced. Most of men are casual users of pornography and are comfortable with that – but just as a man will casually move in and out of temporary encounters online with faces on the screen; he will move in and out of relationships. Just like any comfort or amusement that we search or desire for to kill pain or fear or escape of lives journeys; it will never be as satisfying as allowing God to be glorified through your weakness. We must quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift of God’s grace. Taken limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut us down to size – abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks; we must let Christ take over. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

These everyday disappointments, anger or frustrations are simply a distorted view of our God. If we knew our God, had an actual relationship with Jesus we would have joy that could not be shaken by something as trivial as a long line at the grocery store, lack of sleep, rude people, slow service – and the serious of the events like death, sickness, unemployment, adultery should be platforms for us to allow the spirit of God to move through us. Over 80% of Americans say they are Christians, less than 25% of those Christians claim to be totally dependent upon God. To know God is to know His Word. To know God is to know Jesus Christ. How? We must start by finding trusted people to help us through the trials of life and reveal to us who God really is. Not go off of assumptions or third-party commentary from other people.   

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