What does the Bible say about pain, suffering, broken relationships and anxiety in the lives of Christians?

A Christian’s foundation is built upon the love of Christ. Jesus summarized the law of God in two commands:  love God and love others. As we spread this love it is important we  don’t negate sin, God’s instructions,  or paint a picture of the Christian life as rosy perfect. Christian will experience trails and suffering.

This video explains some of the flaws in Joel Osteen and prosperity type messages. Mark Driscoll examines the life and teachings of the apostle Paul in Acts 16 you will learn where joy is to be found. Joy is not in religion, and a bottle, pill, a person, or new car.

Be sure to watch the whole video, towards the end, there a neat story about Robert Robertson (18th century author of Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing) .

See more videos The Rebels Guide to Joy series

A friend of mine with Breast cancer is in remission. She refers to cancer as her blessing–becasue it brought her into a  relationship with Christ.

I count my health issues as joy – becasue it plunged me into His Word and washed me from bitterness and anger I battled for years.

The Christian life is a struggle when we don’t rest in Him. We battling not against flesh and blood but spirits. God gives us the armor to fight the fight.

Don’t go out in your spiritual underwear. You need the whole armor- especially the Sword of the Spirit (Bible) for the fight.

We don’t always understand why we suffer but we can know God always wants best for us. He is an awesome God of love ready, willing, and able to provide for all our needs. He takes great delight in meeting our needs and showing us love. He wants  fix our problems as He transforms us through them.

We all have a long ways to go before we hear “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” Let us all strive to live humble in gratitude for His love and grace.

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Robert Robinson

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.

Disclaimer: I recommend many Brothers and Sisters in Christ on this blog. It doesn’t mean I agree 100% with their theology.

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