Empty Promises
From
Ragamuffin Soul
I felt promised an easy adulthood because I had an easy childhood.
I felt promised no depression or anxiety because I had nothing to “worry” about.
I felt promised an easy marriage because I had a beautiful wedding.
I felt promised money in the bank because I put money in the offering plate.
I felt promised grace from man because I have grace from Jesus.
I felt promised understanding of grace because I wear a POTSC shirt.
I felt promised grateful kids because there is food on the table.
I felt promised knowledge because I read my Bible.
I felt promised success because I work 12 hours a day.
Then all of those promises were broken.
One. At. A. Time.
It’s because all of those promises are empty.
They ONLY thing that we are promised is the love of Jesus.
And that love can…
Hold you during a rough adulthood…
Sustain you during rough depression…
Restore you when you sabotage your marriage…
Provide for you when you are out of cash…
Support you when Jesus is your only grace…
Reveal to you when you look in the mirror and see Grace on your chest…
Be Hope for you when the fridge is empty…
Fill you when you read His Word…
Satisfy you when you have worked harder on your job than on your family…
These promises will not be broken.
Amen! I was thinking about this a few months ago, Barry. Many kids raised in a Christian home "fall away" or struggle with their walk with God when they hit adulthood....and I'm wondering if it's because we've somehow given them the Christian version of the entitlement mentality. We teach them all about God's faithfulness and promises, but we forget to teach them about taking up your cross... about "he who seeks to keep his life will lose it"... about "take up your cross and follow Me"... about "In this world, you will have trouble." They grow up blessed and expecting that to be the norm, and then blindsided with struggles... and so they doubt God because they've equated His love with that blessing rather than equating it with what it really is.
ReplyDeleteEvangelical churches in general, and Charismatics in particular, don't prepare folks for life by teaching that suffering is a part of Christian life and part of God's plan for our sanctification. There is no guarantee of freedom from problems, pain, setbacks or even horrible trials in the Bible - In fact, it guarantees the opposite. But "be of good cheer," He said, "For I have overcome the world." "Count it all Joy when you have trials" said James.
ReplyDeleteLet's "name and claim" that!