We are in the month of January, a month where the weather tends to be rather bleak and cold but also a month that marks the beginning of a new year and along with that new year often comes new hope concerning many things. Perhaps you have some new years resolutions or simply some things that you’re looking forward to in 2020. On the other hand, we are nearing the end of January and enough time has passed since the start of the year for many of those new years resolutions to be already broken or for you to perhaps realize that some of the great things you had hoped for aren’t going to come as easily as you first thought. Perhaps the optimism that you initially felt for 2020 is already quickly fading or perhaps you never felt any optimism in the first place. Let’s talk about that.
Are you struggling this new year? If so, you’re in good company. Paul, a man who ended up being one of history’s most Godly men and probably the greatest evangelist the world has ever known, struggled too. Look at what Paul had to say here.
Romans 7
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
Paul struggled and he apparently was frustrated by that struggle. Notice that he mentions his struggles in Verse 15, saying that he doesn’t understand why he doesn’t do what he wants to do, and then he repeats basically the same thing in verse 19. Verse 19 is a little more specific. He makes it clear that it is sin that he struggles with, saying that he wants to do good but does evil. It is sin that is at the root of most of our struggles too, though it can be hard to recognize that fact. As you read the above verses and you see Paul talking about his struggles and you see him repeating himself, do you get the sense that he is very frustrated? Do you imagine that he may have sometimes felt that he just couldn’t do it? Do you feel his frustration? You may feel like you just can’t do it. On your own, you’re right, you can’t. However, in God’s strength, Paul did and you can too.
Many people say that the Bible says that God will not put more on you than you can bear. The Bible does not say that. Let’s look at that in two parts.
First of all, regarding sin, it is not God who puts it on you. It is your own sinful nature.
James 1
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Let’s break this down a little bit. Verse 13 tells us that God does not tempt us to sin. Verse 14 tells us that our own desires tempt us. You may say “I can’t help my desires” and that may be true but notice that it does not say that the desires themselves are sinful. Verse 15 tells us that the desires, if allowed to take root, then result in sin. Depending on exactly what it is, that sin can be pretty enjoyable. After all, that’s why we keep doing it. However, the pleasure is only temporary. Verses 16 and 17 tell us not to be deceived because all good things come from God.
Second, God does not say that we will be able to handle whatever situation in which we find ourselves. He says that He can handle it.
1 Corinthians 10
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
When you get in over your head, God does not promise that you will always be able to find a way of escape. He promises that He will make a way of escape. You may have more than you can bear but you do not have more than He can bear. God will be faithful to his promise and make a way of escape but you have to seek that way of escape, by seeking Him. That does not mean just calling out to Him in desperation when you have a problem you can’t seem to get past on your own and ignoring Him the rest of the time. Seeking Him means seeking an actual relationship with Him.
Psalm 46
10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
I think this is is one of the simplest and yet one of the most important verses in Scripture and it is too often overlooked. If we want God to help us with our struggles, we have to get to know Him. However, many of us lead such busy lives that we don’t make the time to spend with Him. Don’t misunderstand what God is saying here. This is not a timid suggestion. It is a command, and it is vital that we obey it.
Have you ever had a friend who you only heard from when they wanted something from you? Did you feel like you had a real relationship with them or did you just feel like they were trying to use you? You felt used, didn’t you? Why would we think that our relationship with God would be any different?
Our relationship with Christ, like any relationship, requires communication. If you don’t talk to someone and listen to what they have to say, if you don’t communicate with them, then you can’t really have a relationship with them. Our relationship with Christ is no different. We talk to Him primarily through prayer and we listen to Him primarily through His Word. That won’t just happen. We have to set aside time to spend with Him and we have to make an effort to make doing that a real priority. God very much wants a relationship with us and so He will help us to do that.
James 4
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Verse 7 tells us to submit to God. If we are to submit, then we are to do what He wants but how do we know what He wants if we don’t really have a close relationship with Him? Verse 7 also tells us to resist the devil. When we get closer to God, the devil won’t just leave us alone. In fact, he will intensify his efforts against us because our close proximity to God makes us more of a threat to him. We must actively resist him. Getting close to God will help us want to resist and, through that close relationship with Him, God will give us not only a desire to resist but also the power to resist.
Verse 8 tells us that if we will try to get Close to God, He will get close to us. We cannot close the distance between us and God ourselves and fortunately we don’t have to. He will come most of the way but we have to take that first step in His direction. Verse 8 also tells us to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts, those of us who are double minded, which is all of us, at least to some degree. We all focus on both Heavenly things and worldly things. That will always be the case this side of eternity but God will help us to shift the focus more and more toward Heavenly things, toward Him.
Let’s come back to Paul. Before he came to Christ, he was a persecutor and murderer of Christians. He certainly had a lot in his early life that he could have looked back on with regret. He didn’t waste time and effort on that though. He looked ahead, toward Christ.
Philippians 3
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
Paul pressed on toward the finish line, where Christ would meet him with open arms, and he encouraged us to do the same. He struggled, just like we do. Also like us, at times, I’m sure he may not have even known how to press on and may not have even wanted to press on. Verse 15 tells us that, when we don’t even know how to want to press on, God will reveal even this to us. I find this very comforting.
Do you see the common thread here? If you are struggling, God will make a way of escape. If you want to get close to God, then God will get close to you. If you will submit to God, then God will help you to resist temptation. God will help you to press on toward the goals that he has set for you and, if you are having trouble with even wanting to do that, God will help you with even that. God will do these things. You Can’t.
You have probably heard it said that to do the same things over and over and expect a different result is the definition of insanity. God will help you to prevail in your struggles but you must seek Him and His will and truly get to know Him. If you have been making no effort to do that and you continue to make no effort to do that, then it won’t happen and nothing will change. Don’t just read this, say “that sounds good” and then move on. If you keep doing or not doing the same things, then you will keep getting or not getting the same results. Salvation is not works based and you cannot simply try hard enough to prevail in your struggles. However, you do have a part in what happens in your life, a big part. You must submit to Him. He has given you free will and you must make the choice to choose Him and put Him first. You won’t do that perfectly. He knows that and He will help you but He won’t make the choice for you. How will you choose?
Do you know Him, Jesus, The Christ, the one who willingly took the punishment for your sins? When I say “do you know Him”, I am really asking two questions. First, have you ever realized your need for Him, confessed that need to Him, asked Him to forgive you of your sin, repented of that sin, and submitted your life to Him as Lord and Master? If the answer to that question is yes, then do you spend significant time with Him, praying to Him and studying His Word, really getting to know Him? If the answer to either of those questions is no, then what are you going to do about it?
As you get into 2020, set goals for yourself. Make getting closer to God the foremost of those goals. Attaining that single goal will eventually make most of your other worthwhile goals fall into place. If you have tried and failed in the past, don’t worry about it. We all have struggled and, as imperfect and sinful human-beings, to some degree, we will all continue to. Don’t beat yourself up over the past and don’t rely on yourself for the future. Look to Him, in all things, and He will direct your path (Proverbs 3:6). You will come to realize that His path is the only one worth being on and that you will never have a better friend than Him.
