Someday, When In The Presence Of Our Savior, We Will Thank Him

for every burden, every trial, and every heartache.

Someday, when this life is over, Christians will be in the presence of Jesus Christ, our Savior; and we will thank Him for every burden, trial and heartache. We will see Him face to face and every difficulty will fade in the light of His glory.

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.

Knowing that someday I will be with Jesus and thank Him for every burden, trial and heartache gives me encouragement. He uses difficulties to grow faith but, occasionally I feel depressed about trials. Sometimes, I experience fear and worry while at other times I complain about my problems.

But, when I feel this way, I continue to communicate with Him. I respectfully let Him know when things are painful, and I express my feelings to Him. Then I ask Him for strength and reaffirm my faith that though I don’t understand how, I believe He will bring good out of everything. He renews my hope and someday, in His presence, I will thank Him for every burden, trial and heartache.

“Be still, sad heart! and cease repining; Behind the clouds is the sun still shining; Thy fate is the common fate of all, Into each life some rain must fall, Some days must be dark and dreary.”

The Rainy Day, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Everyone has their share of rainy days and it seems counterintuitive to think that someday we will thank the Lord for them.

After all, pain and suffering are unpleasant. But, someday when this life is finished and we are in the presence of our Savior, we will thank Him for every affliction, hardship, trial and painful experience.

Truthfully, I don’t usually react to trials with gratitude, but instead with fear, worry and complaining.

But, Christians have the help of the Holy Spirit, so we can respond to trials in the following Biblical ways.

1. We can choose joy and faith instead of fear.

We don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to thank the Lord. We can thank Him today for the “eternal glory” that our present trials are achieving for us.

2 Corinthians 4:17 says it all, For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (NIV)

The Bible tells us that God is using every burden, trial and heartache to develop and grow our faith and endurance.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1:2-4 NLT)

2. We can choose trust instead of worry.

God is wise and in control, therefore we can trust Him. He doesn’t waste anything including pain and suffering. Regardless of the source of our trials, He uses everything for our good, though we may not see it now or in our lifetime.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Don’t worry, but trust God to do His work!

3. We can choose to praise the Lord instead of complaining.

Complaining can lead to self – pity, which can be a slippery slope that leads to depression and despair.

It is essential to always praise the Lord especially during trials. Praise honors God and helps us to keep our focus on Him. Praise is an antidote for complaining and prevents bitterness.

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold–though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. (1 Peter 1:7 NLT)

If we remain steadfast through our trials, someday we will receive praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ comes again.

Job 23:10 says, “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.” (NLT)

Someday, in the presence of Jesus, we will thank Him for every burden, trial and heartache.  We can be grateful that He uses them to refine us as part of His grand plan and purpose.

We don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to thank the Lord. We can begin to thank him now.

What burdens, trials and heartaches are you going through?

Have you accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Please click here if you would like to do so now.

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word!

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Someday, when in the presence of our Savior, we will thank Him for every burden, every trial, and every heartache. J. Vernon McGee | CLICK TO TWEET

For more FREE Inspirational Quote Cards you can use and share click HERE

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• Why Thanking Prayers Are So Important

• How to Know God’s Will for You Right Now

• How can I be grateful when I am grumpy?

• Five Simple Steps to Conquer Complaining and Find Happiness

• What Does God Owe Me? 

• 7 Biblical Christian Mantras I Find Helpful

• How to Balance Content and Discontent in the Christian Life

• Four Steps to Climb Out of a Pit of Depression

• Quote card: All our fret and worry is caused by…

• Quote card: When you’re level of complaining is at an all time high…

• Four Desperately Hopeless Yet Common Approaches to Suffering and Death

• Please Don’t Call Yourself a Christian If…Please DO Call Yourself a Christian If…How to Overcome the Agony of Discouragement and Find Hope Again

• Why is There so Much Pleasure in the World?

• My Classmate Bart Ehrman’s Hopeless Response to Suffering

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

It Is Not How Much We Have, But How Much We Enjoy…

…that makes happiness. — Charles Spurgeon

It’s not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness. Many people have so much money and material possessions, but they are terribly unhappy. Conversely, those who have considerably less are some of the happiest people on the planet.

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.     

My maternal grandmother passed away many years ago, but she made a great impression on me. She knew first hand that it’s not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes for happiness. She never forgot the lessons learned as a young woman living through the “Great Depression”. In fact, they shaped her frugal, resourceful, enterprising and creative personality. I still remember her favorite expression, “Let’s make do.” and she did time and time again; always with style and refinement.

She went through times of hardship and plenty as a wife, mother, grand and great grandmother. But, through hard work and determination, she was also a college graduate; a teacher, painter, gardener, seamstress, interior decorator, real estate investor and business owner. She retained her practical nature all of her life. I remember when I was newly married with children, she spent time mentoring me on how to decorate, meal plan, parent, bargain hunt, clean, organize and entertain. She knew how to enjoy life and that was the key to her happiness. I miss her.

It’s not how much we have that creates happiness and having more possessions is certainly no guarantee. In fact, sometimes an increase in money and material goods can create more problems than it solves. Having more may cause us to worry about losing what we’ve worked for or it can create the burden of having to work harder just to maintain our standard of living.

If we base our happiness on how much we have or wait until we have more to enjoy life, we may run out of time!

It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one’s heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile–like chasing the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 6:9 NET)

If we keep grasping for more money and possessions, we will never be satisfied. Developing an attitude of gratitude and contentment can help us to enjoy what we already possess.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 says, “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” (NLT)

The Bible cautions us against the love of money. But, to love and revere God along with contentment; is itself great wealth.

Material gain may cause us to lose something of greater value such as our faith and devotion to the Lord. In addition, if we are too focused on accumulating more money and possessions; our health and relationships can suffer as well.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

We have the Lord’s promise to be with us every day of our lives, at the moment of our departure and forevermore; and that should make us content.

It’s not how much we have, but it’s how much we enjoy the people in our lives and the blessings from God; that makes happiness.

Life isn’t always rosy and we won’t always enjoy everything, but God can help us through times of adversity; and He can help us to be joyful even when we are suffering. We can choose gratitude and contentment, and we can decide to enjoy our lives just as they are today.

Are you waiting until you have more to enjoy life?

Have you accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Please click here if you would like to do so now.

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

“It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.” –Charles Spurgeon

CLICK TO TWEET

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• Why Thanking Prayers Are So Important

• How to Know God’s Will for You Right Now

• How can I be grateful when I am grumpy?

• Five Simple Steps to Conquer Complaining and Find Happiness

• 3 Steps to Get the Help You Need Today

• What Does God Owe Me? How to Avoid Comparison in a World Filled with It

• How the Curse of Comparison Crushes

• 7 Biblical Christian Mantras I Find Helpful

• How to Balance Content and Discontent in the Christian Life

• Four Steps to Climb Out of a Pit of Depression

• Quote card: When you’re level of complaining is at an all time high…

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

How Raunchy Is Christian Humor Allowed to Be?

If that is even the right question to ask.

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How raunchy should Christian humor be? Recently I was referred to comments made by a celebrity who claims to have become a born-again Christian years ago. I listened to the comments on YouTube and then watched another video of “greatest hits” from that celebrity. Wow, I was treated to a combination testimony coupled with some of the crudest lines I’ve ever heard. It got me thinking that it might be time to address the issue of Christians and raunchy entertainment.

OK, maybe I’m a little naive: I typically don’t watch off-color movies or crude TV programs. And some might even call me prudish after reading what I have to say on this topic. However, I have to insist that Scripture teaches “prudish” behavior and I’m only following orders from God’s Word. (By the way, I LOVE clean humor and enjoy laughing as much or more than the next guy.)

What does the Bible say?

“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” (Ephesians 5:3-4 ESV)

OK the word “raunchy” isn’t in there. But the idea is! It says to avoid:

• “Sexual immorality”

• “All impurity”“Filthiness”

• “Foolish talk”

• “Crude joking”

See, it’s not just me. It’s biblical direction. If the humorous (or for that matter serious) entertainment we’re exposing ourselves to fits any of the descriptors in the list above, it is verboten for Jesus’ followers. It’s not me, it’s the Bible’s instruction.

At this point I hear coming back at me objections and excuses, so I’d like to address a few of them.

Answers to objections related to raunchy Christian humor:

1. To avoid the raunchy Christian humor is to avoid the culture.

Some might argue that we mustn’t put our heads in the sand, that it’s just the way it is, that “everybody is doing it” and etc.

My response:

I certainly agree that American culture (and probably other Western cultures) have gotten dirtier and dirtier. What used to be forbidden on TV is now commonplace. What used to be X rated is now R or PG-13.

But that doesn’t mean Christians have to play along and participate! To be a Christian is often to be counter-cultural. Look at what Jesus said:

“If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19 ESV)

Note the strong language for being cultural nonconformist: “the world hates you!”

“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14-16 ESV)

In fact, lots of Christians complain they don’t have time to improve themselves, study the Bible, serve in the church, pray and so on. Yet they’re spending hours watching what the passage above from Ephesians 5 calls “impurity, filthiness and crude.” We don’t need more time—we need to change life patterns and begin to focus on the following:

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8 ESV)

2. As long as it’s not me being raunchy, it doesn’t matter what Christian humor and entertainment I watch or go to.

Some Christians seem to think that as long as they’re not producing the dirty humor, that they can watch others being dirty all they want.

My response:

To observe IS to participate. It doesn’t matter if you are the originator—if you and I are observing raunchy entertainment, we are part of the problem. If you don’t think that is true, talk to my friend who was arrested for viewing child pornography on his computer in his home all by himself. He wasn’t participating in sexual acts with children, he had nothing to do with the production of the pornography, he might not have even paid for it. But all that didn’t matter—he was guilty of participation and was taken away in handcuffs after the authorities tracked it on his home computer.

Likewise, we are guilty of participation in raunchy if we are watching it.

• “I will be careful to live a blameless life—when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home 3 I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them. 4 I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.” (Psalm 101:2-4 NLT)

• “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” (Ephesians 5:3 NIV)

3. I’m just not convicted about it—it doesn’t bother me.

Some Christians think that it is all a matter of Christian liberty, which it is. Thus, no one can dictate what they can or cannot do, which also is true. So, if they’re not convicted, choices in entertainment are just a matter of personal conviction and thus they can watch as raunchy as they like.

Perhaps you’re saying: “But I’m just not convicted about watching stuff. It’s a matter of my Christian liberty and I have the freedom to do it.” There is some truth in that—I don’t set the rules for you and you don’t set the rules for me.

My response:

I would encourage Christians to pray about what entertainment the Lord would have you participate in, if it seems to be in the categories listed in the passage above from Ephesians 5. As a reminder they were:

• “Sexual immorality”

• “All impurity”

• “Filthiness”

• “Foolish talk”

• “Crude joking”

If you still sense a freedom to participate or watch borderline entertainment, then I would further encourage, if you’re a Christ-follower, to envision Jesus sitting right beside you participating in the “entertainment” and answer the question “How does Jesus like this show, humor, movie, etc.?”

If the answer is that Jesus wouldn’t like it, then maybe you and I shouldn’t like it either. If the answer is that Jesus wouldn’t watch this, then maybe we shouldn’t watch it either.

Yes, Jesus hung out with “sinners” and as a result was called a “glutton and drunkard.” (Matthew 11:19) However, that doesn’t mean he was either of those things. In fact, he wasn’t. He never participated in the sin of those He was seeking to reach. He was the sinless One.

Conclusion:

How raunchy is Christian humor allowed to be? Actually, that’s the wrong question. Our question instead should be, “How pure and holy can I be in order to please the Lord, not only in what I do, but also in what I expose myself to? How can I be more like Jesus?”

“For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:16 NLT)

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 ESV)

Finally, this is an article for Christians. If you have never been born again, to do so, please go HERE to learn how to be saved now.

Help Spread the Word!

If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• 5 Ways to Porn-proof Your Mind and Marriage

• The Toilet Bowl is Swirling — Keep the Lid Closed!

• Podcast: How can I overcome pornography?

• 5 Reasons a Little Porn Will NOT Help Your Marriage

• Is Donald Trump a Christian?Jesus Wasn’t Always “Seeker Sensitive”

• How to Share Biblical Correction and Guidance

• How to Receive Biblical Correction and Guidance

• Podcast: Should Christians be tolerant?

• Quote card: Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

• Having Just One Person to Please Brings Peace

• Quote card: The only person you should try to be better than,

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth