The saying is that “nothing is guaranteed in life except death and taxes.” Unfortunately, we know that some people have managed to avoid the taxes. However, I digress. As Christians, believers in Jesus Christ, we have been given several gifts that should allow us to maintain our daily joy, peace, and contentment.

THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE CONSTANT

There is a tendency to panic when things don’t go as expected or there is bad news. It’s the natural human response to unpleasant and unexpected bad news. However, the assurance we have as Christians is that the Holy Spirit, a spirit of power, love, and a strong mind, will never fail us or forsake us. We are not going through the trial and tribulation alone. Yes, it is sad, painful, confusing, and even overwhelming; yet that is often when we MUST remember that we have the perpetual Comforter with us.

LOSING MY BROTHER TO SUICIDE ROCKED MY WORLD

Although I have been a Christian since I was baptized as a baby, I was clueless as a child of God. I believed in God, but I did not understand the importance of having a relationship with Christ. Like a child, I believed that nothing bad would happen to us. Still, like a child I believed that since we had already had our share of bad things happen to us, we were due some recompense. Life does not work that way. Bad things happen to good and bad people. Good things happen to good and bad people. The sun shines on good and bad people. The rain falls on good and bad people. My definition of a bad person is someone who consistently chooses to act from a place of hate and fear, instead of from a place of unconditional LOVE.

WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS

No one knows what is going to happen one second from now, much less twenty-four hours from now. However, we do know that God is ALWAYS in control. What prevents many of us from keeping or holding on to our joy, peace, and contentment are some misguided beliefs about ourselves. Beliefs I came to realize as UNTRUTHS (lies), that make no sense given who we are as children of the Most High God. Eight lies that cannot coexist with the reality of who we are as wonderfully made creations of God:

1. We are ‘not enough’
2. There is ‘not enough’ for us
3. We are ‘not lovable’
4. We ‘cannot cope’
5. We are ‘not deserving’
6. My sin is too great for God to forgive
7. I am the exception to the rule that ‘God loves us unconditionally’
8. God cannot solve this problem

WHY WE LOSE OUR WAY IN TIMES OF TRIALS

There is the distorted thinking that nothing bad should happen to the children of God. Have we forgotten about Job or Joseph? We are unique, but we are not special; meaning, we are not exempt from trials and tribulations. We go through them like everyone with the help of the Holy Spirit if we are wise enough to lean on Him. Sadly, if we turn our backs on God, those trials and tribulations can break us or leave us feeling hopeless. Wherever you are right now, remember God has already equipped you for the journey. Trust in God to bring you through to complete the task He has set before you. Know that His will is ALWAYS the best, no matter what the evidence looks or feels like, for He is a Sovereign, faithful, and loving God.

LEAD IMAGE COURTESY OF FRANK MCKENNA (UNSPLASH)