Blog-votional: Life is Not a Sitcom: The Struggle to Live the Christian Life

The famous Holocaust survivor, Corrie ten Boom said, “Look within and be depressed. Look around and be distressed. Look to Jesus and be at rest.” Looking without, Corrie had reason to be distressed. She lived in a concentration camp. She watched many people die, including her family.  Looking within, she felt depressed as she saw clearly the darkness of her own heart. She learned to see the bright side of everything and to trust in God.  She could eventually advise multiple thousands, “Look to Jesus and be at rest.”    

We are discussing the struggle to live a victorious Christian life.  Corrie ten Boom is a wonderful example of a person learning to be obedient to God regardless of circumstances.  Early in her Christian walk, she vacillated between looking within and around.  But her obedient spirit to the Lord eventually enabled her to look up and keep looking up.

Hebrews 12:1-2 urges us to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” 

Stuff does happen as we are living this life!  Friends may disappoint.  Family may frustrate.  A career may turn sour.  The neighborhood may turn in valuation and we lose our investment.  The Stock Market may not favor our choices.  The medical bills may overwhelm.  The enemy of our soul will hassle us. Death can overtake loved ones early.  So what do we do?  Let us remember why we are determined to be fully devoted disciples of the Lord Jesus.  It is because of God’s great and gracious love for us in His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He loved us while we were unlovely.  He forgave us while we were yet sinners.  He pursues us even today with an everlasting love!

So in the struggle to live a victorious Christian life,  let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.  That will keep us moving forward and He will surely support our struggle.

Think about this: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary, and young men stumble and fail; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Dr. Stan Parker