At any given time, many Christians are at a breaking point. Few believers would even dare to entertain thoughts of quitting on their love for Jesus, but in despair, they do consider giving up on themselves.
Some ministers preach only a positive message. To hear them tell it, every believer is getting instant answers to prayer and receiving miracles, everybody is feeling good and living well, and the whole world is bright and rosy. This kind of preaching can be encouraging once in a while, but it is not the way things are for a great number of sincere Christians.
No wonder young people give up in defeat. They can’t live up to the image created by the religion of a carefree, rich, successful, always positive-thinking Christian. Their world is not that ideal; they live with heartbreak, hour-by-hour crises, and family problems.
Paul talked about trouble: “We were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life” (2 Corinthians 1:8, NKJV).
Positive thinking will not make these problems go away, and acting as though these problems do not exist does not change a thing. What is the cure? Here are two absolutes that bring great comfort and help:
- God loves me. He is a loving father who wants only to lift us out of our weakness.
- It is my faith that pleases him most. He wants me to trust him.
“I will love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:1-3).