– What is the significance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

– How can we see the glass half full and even find joy amid suffering?

– How can I have faith that God secures a heavenly inheritance for me?

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Note: I recommend you never substitute my instructions or anyone else’s for your time in the Bible. I do my best to keep it free from error. If you have a Biblically sound reason to correct me on my content, I invite you to reach out.

It was 2006, and I began my post-high school track at the University of Miami. Early in my academic career, I strongly desired to excel. I had a rocky start to my first semester compared to the standards I had come to expect in high school. I was accustomed to achieving straight A’s. Going in, I assumed I could easily handle a six-class course load and stacked those classes to all be on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with only the sixth class being Wednesdays. The sixth course was a post-graduation preparation class that would prepare us for either law school or an MBA program. What could be better than a four-day weekend every week? 

I assumed it would be an excellent plan as it would enable me to continue participating in competitive PC gaming while providing additional free time to focus on studying. However, I needed to allot my time to better prioritize school work and study instead of structuring my time to make room for the games that interested me. Ultimately, this strategy resulted in a mix of A’s and B’s with a C+ in a Communications course I underestimated. These results fell short of my expectations but taught me a humbling lesson. I was confident I could redeem myself in the Spring of 2006 and made adjustments to make that a reality. 

Adjustments were needed!

It was clear that I would only turn things around if I studied more diligently and put in more effort starting the next semester. I decided to do five classes instead of six and begin a paid internship with OfficeMax, which an old friend connected me with. I felt fortunate as this was not the kind of opportunity a first-year student would often get. I also made the crucial adjustment to spread those five classes through Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. One upside of the internship was that I would allocate less free time to playing PC games, but there were a few downsides I did not foresee. The schedule would give little room for error. I was confident I could handle it at the time despite suspecting I might exert myself too much. I thought, “How hard would it be to put games on the back burner and pay more attention if need be?”

I hit the ground running that next semester and saw myself excel in all I was doing. The perfectionist inside of me was delighted with my performance. Within that first month or two of the semester, I got straight A’s and worked diligently to prove myself in my internship. I even made some time to play those coveted PC games and give lessons for money to augment my income. Some upper-level classmates and co-workers I occasionally encountered recognized my hard work through their affirmation and encouragement. I also noticed one of the young ladies in a class appeared enthusiastic about getting to know me. In my eyes, I was on top of the world in practically every area that seemed to matter.

I felt invincible, and my faith was the only aspect of my life I had allowed to become secondary. I did not slip away to the extent where I would call myself a prodigal or rebel, but I was not seeking God above the parameters for success the world offered. All these things I pursued were good. The mistake was not ensuring God was my top priority (Matthew 6:33). I was not attending Church or any Bible studies (Hebrews 10:25), although I still made it a point to talk to people about God on campus (Matthew 28:18-20). I also did so in the computer games I used to play. But the reality was apart from that, and perhaps some prayer time, my faith was not where it should be.

God corrects those He loves.

After those first couple of months or so, I was highly stressed out. It was a great time to quit the PC games, consider dropping one class, or even let go of the internship to salvage my work-life balance and mental health. Given my competitive nature, I did not find these solutions reasonable. I told myself I would power through anything and the stressors would subside in time (Proverbs 16:18). It got to a point where I did not sleep enough, and I became severely burnt out from over-extending myself. I did not recognize my limitations and remove something from my schedule. Instead, not long after, I put myself in a position where I needed to drop the entire load immediately. That is what I did, and not too long later, I realized I found myself immersed in a manic episode. I even had to be hospitalized, and my recovery was no walk in the park, to say the absolute least. 

Instead of having the humility and self-control to retire the PC games and sleep better, I had to let go of everything I was working for. I was not angry at God but was perplexed why He would allow me to suffer such a severe setback. I would face similar consequences for my mistakes again further down the road. My excessive ambition, competitive nature, and perfectionism led me to experience similar events thrice more during the following decade. It was challenging to realize that God gave me a loving and merciful detour because I was overly focused on what I had lost (Hebrews 12:11).

To this day, I can only speculate what God’s complete plan entails concerning these events. First and foremost, it made me realize that I should invest in eternity over the fleeting accomplishments and accolades this world offers (Ephesians 5:15-17). It also taught me I could not force or accomplish anything outside Him, allowing and empowering it. None of us can do anything of eternal value outside of Jesus Christ helping us to do so (John 15:4-8).

Instead of becoming a lawyer or climbing the ranks of a corporate ladder, God turned my focus back to Him. I discovered the value of being in His will, learned that God is to be loved and feared, and even found great satisfaction in serving Him through writing, among other pursuits (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). God even blessed me with more time to spend with my mom and dad, who helped me in my darkest days and never gave up on my recovery despite how bleak things were.

I may not know every reason why God ordained what happened, but I could not be more thankful that it did. My relationship with Him is stronger than ever. I placed my career aspirations on indefinite hold due to the circumstances of what occurred, but I am all the more blessed for having grown closer to Him in that season. I will celebrate eight years since my last hospitalization in August of this year, and He has remained faithful to me. The trial was severe, but God never abandoned me or let me down in any way (James 1:2-4; Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5-6).

It can be quite painful or even excruciating at the moment, but God corrects those He loves (Hebrews 12:6-7). All the lessons God teaches you the hard way have their purpose (Romans 8:28). One of the best ways to approach this is to learn from the experience and mistakes of others. Exercising our humility and integrating valuable lessons into our lives is crucial. While this may not always be a luxury available to us, it should always be on our radar to consider the advice of the people that love us. It rings even more true when they have our best interests at heart and are qualified to offer the advice they give regarding the subject matter.

Final thoughts

Instead of finding your identity in your career, relationships, or other gauges of success, I suggest discovering it in God first (2 Corinthians 5:17). We can enjoy these avenues of human achievement in their time as God opens the door. But they should never be our most significant focus. If you find your identity in Jesus Christ, it cannot be taken away, stolen, or otherwise lost. Nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:35-39)! Take comfort in His presence today. We can find joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment in Him (Psalm 16:11). Everything He blesses us with in this life is the icing on the cake. The real blessing is having the chance to serve Him and spend eternity with God in Heaven. We should thank Him for everything from the little material blessings (i.e., a pen and paper) to the largest of spiritual ones (i.e., knowing Jesus Christ as Savior) and everything in between. May God empower us all to live for His glory without regrets and appreciate all those blessings we are given rather than focusing on what we may lack (1 Chronicles 16:29-30).

Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV).

There are times when I actively pursue God with outstanding zeal and other seasons when I find my attention divided (Luke 10:38-42). Sometimes it is rooted in mistakenly erecting idols or spreading ourselves too thinly across many areas (1 Corinthians 10:14). We might find ourselves in a state of satisfaction where we immerse ourselves in the things of God but then allow elements of compromise to open the door to complacency. A certain degree of self-awareness helps greatly in cases like this. If we realize that our hearts are not all-in for God’s glory, we can at least acknowledge that change is needed (2 Corinthians 13:5). Otherwise, it is easy to continue to slip away from God. As any seasoned believer will tell you, only bad things can come from that. The last thing we can afford to concede is our intimacy with Jesus Christ (John 15:4-6).

In cases like these, we might also make the mistaken connection of thinking that our standing with God might improve based on our performance. In terms of salvation, this could not be further from the truth (Ephesians 2:8-9)! Likewise, if we do things for God, they should flow out of gratitude and transformation in our lives (Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:10). In other words, we know that God will not love us anymore or any less based on what we do. We cannot earn God’s grace (unmerited favor). By definition, it is something we do not deserve in the first place. Suffice it to say that we are inspired to do good works as a result of being believers, not to become saved or maintain our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:22-23).

Our world sidetracks us with many distractions that detract from our focus on eternity. We must remind ourselves and other loved ones that such endeavors may not effectively redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16-21). At times we tend to concentrate on the circumstances this world puts us in with greater attention than that which we extend toward God. Meanwhile, we should recognize God’s sovereignty and find our ultimate source of comfort, satisfaction, solutions, and rest in Him (Psalm 16:11). Instead, we tend to resort to our efforts to solve problems that often only serve to stress us out or instill worry in us concerning matters outside our control (Matthew 6:34). Furthermore, many of these issues that we blow out of proportion eventually prove less of a threat to our lives than we thought they would be.

Of course, I am not advocating that we settle into a pattern of passivity and fail to address the outstanding issues we must face. On the contrary, God wants us to be faithful and fearlessly seek His will in good and bad times. The key is to remember that God and His numerous provisions are available to us as we face these battles (2 Peter 1:3). Rather than attempting to handle something alone, we can follow God’s will and seek counsel from others who can offer wisdom on navigating the situation (Proverbs 11:14). Likewise, instead of worrying about our circumstances, we can pray to God and surrender our requests, concerns, and anxieties at His feet (1 Peter 5:7). Finally, we may need to exercise humility if personally stressed or on the verge of burnout. Sharing that information with our loved ones who God has surrounded us with and seeking His help and peace is crucial (Galatians 6:9-10).

Another issue that pops up on an alarming basis is the perception that one has tasted enough of God’s presence (Ecclesiastes 8:3). For instance, we may live in a toxic work environment or face countless worldly situations from one Sunday to the next. We might think that as long as we replenish ourselves with God’s Word for that Sunday service, we can handle a whole week without continuing to pursue God. Then we are caught off guard when we do not feel God’s presence as intimately and lack spiritual nourishment (Psalm 46:10). We need to recognize that a brief sermon is not sufficient to cope with the weight of this world across the span of a week.

As such, we must consider options such as surrounding ourselves with Christian fellowship, personal Bible study, involvement in a Church small group, and maintaining an active prayer life (Hebrews 10:25, 1 Chronicles 6:11). I am not saying all these things are necessary simultaneously. Still, in a general sense, they serve to edify you and those around you in extraordinary ways over time (1 Thessalonians 5:11-13). They also open the door for you to share your insight with other believers and allow you to serve God in the process.

One of the key takeaways from all this is to recall that it isn’t likely that we remain stationary in our walk with Jesus Christ. Instead, we walk toward Him or away from Him with every decision we make (Joshua 24:15). While we cannot lose our salvation through patterns of continuous, unrepentant sin, it should concern us if we are not observing sanctification in our lives overall (1 Thessalonians 4:3). It follows that our intimacy with Jesus Christ should be prioritized and could suffer if we fail to neglect such concerns. We must avoid compromise at all costs and draw nearer to God at every opportunity (Isaiah 55:6). Every decision tends to lead us closer or further away from God. We should set our sights on the significance of eternity in Heaven with Jesus Christ and recall how brief our life is by comparison (Psalm 144:4, James 4:14). As such, let us seek God and His will by actively pursuing a relationship with our Lord and Savior. After all, it is only in, with, and through Jesus Christ that we successfully do anything of eternal value.

We should often remind ourselves to thank God for everything, from the smallest of material blessings to the largest of spiritual ones (1 Corinthians 15:57). We should keep a firm grasp on the fact that with Jesus Christ, we have all we need (Romans 11:36). Additionally, we can still appreciate the alternative blessings that He lavishes upon us. Refrain from letting the allure of the world captivate you into thinking that it is exclusively fame, money, power, influence, or materialism that will provide happiness (Romans 12:2).

If we play the comparison game, we will always find that we do not stack up on some level, which breeds envy, jealousy, and discontentment (Ecclesiastes 4:4, James 4:2-3). Instead, we must remember that our value stems from our identity as God’s children (Ephesians 2:10, Genesis 1:27). Additionally, He saw it fit to bless you with eyesight, internet access, shelter, and leisure time to learn about God and His Word. If you are alive and reading this, it is clear you are among the most blessed people on earth!

Hopefully, you already know Jesus Christ, but if you are not yet a believer, God has inspired you to read this article. Perhaps He prompted your heart and sparked a curiosity that led you to visit this page today. Do not chalk this up to mere coincidence. Today is the day of salvation, and there is no better time than the present to acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior if you have not already done so (2 Corinthians 6:2). None of us should take for granted every day of mercy that God patiently provides for more people to come to saving faith through His Son, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9).

When I struggle through a difficult time, feel disappointed, frustrated, or otherwise find myself in a negative state of mind, I try to remember how fortunate I am. We live in an era of human history where most people live under better circumstances than the royalty of prior centuries. Yet, surprisingly, many of our most significant obstacles are often manufactured by excess indulgences, luxuries, instant gratification, and comfort. Therefore, we need to exercise discipline and self-control to avoid being consumed by these seductive pitfalls. Some things are a blessing as long as we practice moderation, but the minute we overdo it, those same blessings can become a problem (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).

For instance, we can enjoy eating to some degree. Still, the moment we step into gluttony, we know we do more harm than good (Ezekiel 16:49, Philippians 3:19, Proverbs 28:7). It is reasonable to seek a life partner one day that we may eventually marry. Still, if we obsess about a specific person or idolize the gift of marriage, we set ourselves up for a rude awakening. Any time we attempt to substitute the longings in our hearts to worship and draw closer to God with anything else, we will not find lasting joy or satisfaction.

Notice that both of these examples can be blessings from God if they are done His way, in His timing, to the extent He desires for us (1 Corinthians 10:31, Proverbs 18:22, Genesis 2:18). However, we must be aware that even intrinsically good things can be detrimental to us. It is the Creator that we must worship, not His creation. The appetites of the flesh, including the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, are insatiable. We must not cater to them, for they have the potential to consume us (1 John 2:16, Romans 6:23). Limited and finite things, even other human beings, cannot fill the void that only an unlimited, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God can (Psalm 16:11).

I encourage you to reflect and take inventory today about what you are thankful for and whether God remains your primary focus. As long as we keep our eyes on our Savior and immerse ourselves in His will, we will find that we will run the race of this life with perseverance (Hebrews 12:1). He gives us all we need to press forward and enjoy the journey (Philippians 4:19). Therefore, do not put yourself in a position where you look back on this life and fail to maximize the time for His glory (Ephesians 5:15-18, 1 Corinthians 10:31). God’s will for you is to immerse yourself in His purpose in light of His calling upon your life (Romans 8:28). Anything less is not living up to His will for you. Delight in God and derive satisfaction from fulfilling that mission (Psalm 37:4-7). It is only a matter of time before we reach the finish line on this side of Heaven and enjoy eternal life with Him (2 Timothy 4:7).

As with many other things in life, exercising moderation and finding the balance that best suits you should be your consistent aspiration. I would venture to say there is no one size fits all answer regarding the frequency of seclusion versus the time we spend with people because we are not duplicates of one another. There are also many moving parts to consider before establishing the pattern that best suits you. For instance, some of us are introverted by nature and will gravitate towards more independence to attain rest and peace. Meanwhile, extroverted people might derive comfort and joy from maximizing time spent with people. Examples of additional factors to help determine the best balance for you include the following:

• Current energy levels.
• Knowing our limits (i.e., stamina, stress, physical needs, etc.)
• Patterns of behavior. (i.e., recent activities, exposure of the senses to stimuli or lack thereof, etc.)

Recognizing these variables and considering the many that remain unmentioned above makes it challenging to determine optimal circumstances for ourselves, let alone for people in the aggregate. Interestingly, solitude provides us ample time to reflect and grow to learn what we need, want, and hope to achieve. However, liabilities like loneliness or depression can creep in if we over-emphasize it at the expense of spending time with loved ones.

Many of us, including those who identify as introverts, conceded that the recent epidemic we collectively faced stretched our affinity for alone time. Despite the connectivity technological advances provided through social media and apps like Zoom, almost everyone I recall speaking with afterward was thankful to reconnect with people again. It is not a stretch to conclude that parts of our physical, mental, and spiritual wellness rely on seeing people face-to-face and interacting beyond our computer screens. There is no denying that we are all social on some level. It is just a matter of determining where each of us lands on that spectrum that helps us pinpoint the proper balance of solitude and community that works for us accordingly.

As believers, this should indicate how vital it is to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-16). Sharing God’s love with those we encounter may seem like a small, unnecessary, or even inconsequential gesture to us at the moment. However, these moments have the power to change the trajectory of people’s lives. We have no idea what some people have faced throughout the day, let alone their lives before we run into them. Opening someone’s door, lending a helping hand, or sharing God’s Word could lead to a tipping point in the right direction (Philippians 2:1-4). A lifetime of acts such as these may translate to eternal blessing for them and eternal reward for us (Matthew 6:19-21). We might even experience the privilege of leading some to come to saving faith in Jesus Christ and avoid eternity in hell (Romans 1:16, Isaiah 55:11)!

Balancing intentionality with our solitude and immersing ourselves in our local Church community assists us in overcoming the numerous distractions that contend for our attention. Unfortunately, it is easy to get caught up in the motions and forget to be intentional with our resources, time, and energy (1 Peter 4:10, Luke 16:1-13). Looking for the thrill of our next moment of instant gratification, we may resort to things like excessive social media, pornography, drugs, sex, alcohol, and so forth. These can develop into harmful patterns of behavior and even sinful addictions if left unchecked. Such dead-end roads reward us with unearned, momentary dopamine releases that feel extremely good for the moment and leave behind a wake of pain, stress, anxiety, worry, or even depression to cope with later (Romans 6:20-23). If behaviors like these become habitual, they typically motivate us to pursue more extreme measures involving a higher quantity and extended duration of exposure to acquire similar highs.

Thankfully, when we fight alongside other believers and encourage one another to overcome such setbacks, we can develop accountability and extra lines of defense before these detrimental behaviors get out of control (1 Peter 5:8-9). We must avoid the traps above and instead enjoy God-given pleasures responsibly in their time while we repent of the sinful ones with God’s help (Acts 3:19). For instance, we can enjoy sex in a marriage relationship between a man and woman with God’s blessing. In contrast, outside of marriage, it is a sinful endeavor. We must refrain from settling for the fool’s gold the devil has to offer if we want to experience God’s best. After all, He is the One Who invented sex. It is worth noting some things are intrinsically wrong. For example, pornography is immoral, and we should fight to avoid it consistently (Matthew 5:28). Thankfully, when we know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we can cling to His promises to us. He has set us free from slavery to such sins (Romans 6:20-22). If we reach out to Him for help, He will assist us. We can rest assured He has won the war over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Thus, we no longer need to live in condemnation (Romans 8:1).

Whether in a period of solitude or with your loved ones, remember you can always reach out to them for help. There is a reason God has empowered you to help others, and I would bet that those you have invested in will gladly be there for you when you need it most. If all else fails, God Himself will always be with you and never leave or forsake you (Isaiah 41:10, Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5-8). Take comfort in His presence and provisions today!

It is such an attitude of gratitude that continually bolsters our disposition to be content. At least a handful of Bible verses offer us insight into why this is valuable, but ultimately they appear to point in the same general direction. Such understanding ought to provoke us to value God above everything else and recognize that He is everything. Without God, we are nothing, but if we put Him first, He is always faithful to provide us with exactly what we need (2 Corinthians 9:8). You and I may have an idea of what we feel would best suit us from our finite perspective, but God in His infinite wisdom knows what is best for us regarding His eternal plans and our eternal well-being (Romans 8:28). Thus, even in our gratitude, there ought to be an understanding that we value God Himself as our greatest treasure and not His provisions, no matter how wonderful some of those might be.

“6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

1 Timothy 6:6-12 (NKJV)

Contentment is particularly beneficial in getting rid of our worldly ambitions and replacing them with a desire to serve God. Instead of always trying to figure out our own best interests; it would be preferable to think about the future with a Biblical lens. It is this kind of lens that positions us to consider things from the vantage point of eternity. Of course, there is a place to enjoy things such as leisure, comfort, luxury, and personal care, but when these things become essential in our eyes, they can turn into hazardous distractions. Rather than serving to improve your life, they could hinder your focus away from God and cause you to stumble into idolatry. As such, we need to pray God would help free us from the love of money, which is the root of all kinds of evil. Likewise, it would benefit us greatly to diminish our love for the things of this world while our love for God and His Word increases.

Thanksgiving tradition emphasizes gratitude, but we should live a lifestyle of thankfulness daily. Furthermore, when we focus our attention on Jesus Christ, we find satisfaction that leads to contentment. When we rest our joy on our relationship with Jesus Christ, we can rest assured that no one will ever be able to take it away. Everything and everyone else can pass away, be lost, or even get stolen from us. Meanwhile, our joy centered in our Lord and Savior will remain now and forever. Our happiness can fluctuate up and down based on the consistent changes we experience on this side of Heaven. However, no matter how chaotic it may appear externally, God will never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Jesus Christ will always be there to lead the way for us as the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Nothing else on the face of the earth can offer such certainty amid uncertain circumstances in the tumultuous world in which all of us currently reside.

If you are suffering, struggling, or otherwise do not feel as though you have a lot to be thankful for, I encourage you to take comfort in God and His Word. It does not matter if you are facing a health issue, financial crisis, mental health problems, or your family relations are in turmoil. You may even be out of strength to fight the battle on your own, and the solution may not seem obvious to you. However, God’s strength is made perfect in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). I want to encourage you that even if you cannot handle the trials, God will give you the help you need. Take a step of faith and start with prayer. Shift your attention to God and His Word instead of your battles. Soon you will realize that He will lift you in due time and help you confront your issues with strength, wisdom, confidence, and joy, among His other numerous provisions. It is critical to ask for His help in each of the problems you are facing in faith and obedience (Hebrews 11:6). Take a step in the right direction with His help. It does not have to be a giant one but start by getting the ball rolling with minor victories. Eventually, you will make progress as long as you do not grow weary in doing right (Galatians 6:9).

Sometimes if we want a significant shift in our lives, God may require us to make substantial changes. Ponder what those might be and seek God’s insight. Sit and listen to God through prayer and Bible study. It is only a matter of time before your next action step becomes clear to you. Don’t get stung by analysis paralysis because of too many areas demanding your attention. Perhaps instead of multitasking in such a situation, it would be prudent to consider prioritizing everything and addressing each issue accordingly, one at a time from most to least integral. We all only have 24 hours each day, and some of our struggles will require incremental adjustments to make progress. For example, if you plan to get out of financial struggles, you may need to set a budget and adjust your spending habits. It may take significant time for you to see substantial progress, but this kind of consideration would likely bear fruit if you exercise discipline and self-control over a sustained time horizon

Suffice it to say that in all circumstances, we need to find contentment as Paul did. He was imprisoned in a dungeon that likely makes modern prisons look like five-star hotel accommodations. But in all of this, he remained faithful, and God never abandoned him (Philippians 4:11-13). If God helped Paul, He could come through for you too. Don’t underestimate the power of prayer and wielding a willingness to obey God’s commands. In every circumstance, you find yourself in, and in every concern you have, make your requests known to God with thanksgiving in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7). There’s no need to be anxious, worried, or afraid of an uncertain future when you serve the one true God with certainty (Matthew 6:34). After all, we should know and trust that He is sovereign over everything and provides us all we need. If nothing else, all of us believers can find real and lasting contentment in Jesus Christ. When we do, we will realize that everything else is trivial by comparison. Furthermore, He intends to bless us with peace, hope, and a future in Him forever (Jeremiah 29:11).