Spiritual Tug of War

[Anglewannabe]

Whenever I hear of a story of people who are living in unfavourable circumstance such as a war torn country, extreme financial difficulties or dysfunctional families, yet they do their best to follow God and put their faith in him I am fascinated. I could listen or read about how they just keep turning to God all day long. They are my heroes I strive to be.

However…when times are hard for me, I no longer envy these people and just desperately wish things would get better. I have trouble living up to the example these people inspire in me. It seems like it is easy for them.

Anyone else feel like this?

Angie

 

[Polyphony]

I think everyone does, but especially if we don’t sort of “train up” for the big difficulties.

There’s a million opportunities every day to set aside our own will and to follow God’s instead. Absolutely anything happening is God’s will in some way, after all. And aligning our own wills to His can be rather painful.

I think it’s easier to just complain and to whine and to get upset and frustrated. And then when something bigger happens, we cave in very easily.

We’re easy to break because we’re so self-willed, and if we don’t actively fight against that then we’ll never improve, because we’ll be putting up impediments to God’s grace.

 

[AnneElizabeth]

Anglewannabe,

I think its safe to assume that the people whom you look up to and call heroes also go through the same thing.    This doesn't take away from their heroic faith, but adds.   No saint goes through the difficulties in life without having to also battle the feelings which you describe. ... it happens to us all.   We are all peppered with 'fire'.   

I had a grandmother who, as a young polish girl during the war, orphaned, was a slave to a family and lived in a barn for that year or so of her life.   She also afterwards lived in a refugee camp and was taken advantage of, her young child (I'm pretty sure was) murdered, and when impregnated again, sent away to another country with a promise of being reunited, but left alone instead.   When I knew her, she was a very faithful and spiritual woman, but she also still had some spitfire anger in her years later too..   While I can say the hardships increased her love and mercy to beautiful levels, she still had temptations which she didn't live up to perfection in dealing with, as we all do.     I hope this does not disparage all that she went through or make light of it, nor sound like she didn't spiritually grow tremendously because of her sufferings, rather I'm just trying to point out that those temptations that you speak of are still there and sometimes not handled the best way, despite the circumstances.    God knows I look up to that woman as well.   Her devotion and faith led me.

 

[pianistclare]

Joy comes from within. Knowing the Creator, having a relationship with Him, and realizing He love us.
Joe does not come from an absence of trials.
Joy is what happens in spite of trials.
Examine what makes people truly happy. For people of faith, it’s the sure knowledge of love and redemption. Our time on this earth is but a blip on the timeline of eternity.
My husband asked his mother when he was a teenager: Mom, how will I know if someone truly loves me?
Her answer was simple: You’ll know it in the small things.

It’s the gestures, the small acts of love, kindness, and the recognition of a beautiful day, a lovely thought, a gentle hand.
It’s not in envy. Never will be.
Those who truly love God know true peace.

 

[Anglewannabe]

Thank you everyone for all the kind replies so far. I believe a lot of wisdom was written in your responses. I really feel I need to talk about what I posted to make sure I still do my best to try to live it. And it is nice to have your posts as a positive influence

Please keep the wisdom coming

Angie