How to Enjoy Life Even in the Tough Times

There was the most amazing wedding story traveling around social media about a man and woman, two real estate agents that first meet at a real estate conference and very quickly fell madly in love. The two lived quite a distance apart, but they made it work. He lived in Texas and she lived in Washington State. In only a few months they decided to marry. The groom decided that he would pay for everything. He flew all of the his wife to be’s family in, catered an extraordinary event and the wedding was more than she had ever imagined was possible. They left for their honeymoon and upon their return home the wife told him that she would not be staying in Texas. Although she loved him very much, she was going to return to Washington, to her old life and friends. She didn’t want anything to change. She promised that she would call him every week on Zoom and they could share their life. The groom was so broken hearted, this was not what he had planned at all! He wanted to spend every second possible with her. Why on earth would she not feel the same if she loved him?

This is actually an analogy of the life of most Christians. Christ gave His all for them to be His bride. But the bride is not willing to give up her old life and world to live in a world with all He wants to give. The groom never left the bride, but stayed faithful, day in and day out, even in her absence. The bride called once a week, religiously, but the conversation was short and filled with the same rhetorical speech with little to no emotion or change in her life.

That story broke my heart because I see it played out every week in today’s church.

Our life with Christ was meant to be a relational life filled with love and conversation. He wants to be apart of every aspect of our life, the good and the bad. But instead he gets a Sunday morning (if that!) . But not always even that.

I Don’t have to go to Church to Prove I’m a Christian

That’s true. If you’re not a church goer, you’re probably angry that I even brought it up. But please don’t be angry, just listen to what the Lord laid on my heart.

Most of us have seen the toll that the COVID era took on the United States. The fact that four years later people were still working from home while government office buildings set empty was ridiculous. None of those workers wanted to go back to work because it was much less demanding working from home. There was also less communication, no accountability, no reason to even get dressed. And now that DOGE is telling people to return, or asking them to explain what they do in the course of a day, they’re angry. How dare someone hold them accountable! So what if our tax dollars pay their salary.

Is this not the same mentality as a child of God who believes that they owe the Man who gave His life for them nothing? Is it required. No. Christ gave His life freely on the cross. He bore the sin of every man and woman on earth, having never sinned Himself. He willingly allowed them to spit on Him, beat Him until He was unrecognizable and crucify Him naked on a cross between two common thieves. The price He paid was far more than what our mind can fathom nor comprehend the pain. He didn’t do that to pay the price for you to go to church. He did that so that you could have a relationship with Him.

Covid took its toll on the church as well when less than half of the congregation returned to attendance when the churches opened back up. Let’s not get mad, let’s get real.

• You say you’re saved. Wonderful!!!! But do you have confidence in it in death or if Jesus split the sky open today to take you home?
• Your heart is broken by someone you never imagined would something like that. Who do you turn to?
• You have a life altering decision to make, how will you decide?

Of course these are questions you’ve likely pondered before, but serving and having a relationship with Christ is not only for the hard times.

You may (or may not) have missed my posts lately on the Jesus Chick site. I’ve spoken about it before, that I’m staying with my Mother who has dementia. My priorities have somewhat changed. Taking care of her is high on my list. I can’t say that there’s not some things that should be high on my list too… like taking care of my house and business. But… the trial turned to blessing through my return to deep bible study. I don’t miss church, but I can tell you honestly after a few years of being in a spiritual pit, my bible study suffered. But with the current state of affairs in my life, my Bible study has been amazing and my time with God and His word has been taking a journey every day to Jerusalem. I kid you not. I’m reading it afresh, journaling every day and overall having the greatest time of my life. All in the middle of some of the hardest days of my life. I share that with you to tell you… GOD IS SO VERY REAL!!!! But if you want to experience Him in the utmost of ways, you need to make Him the priority of your life.

Before everyone and everything.

There is no excuse that will suffice for not spending time in the word. None for not making church a priority. Work on Sunday? Hit the Wednesday Night or Sunday night Service. Use the online option when necessary, but a church family will encourage your life so much, don’t miss that blessing! Worried about your children? Give them to God and allow Him to work on them… He has so much more experience and will guide you on some of your craziest days.

I praise God for getting me back into the word, prayer and teaching!!!! I invite you to join me. Let me know how Jesus is working in your life.

Remember the broken hearted groom… we are the bride of Christ. He wants to spend every second of the day with you.