Life sucks.
I know that’s probably not what you expect to read in a Christian woman’s blog. In fact, I don’t usually even use that phrase, but we all know it’s true. So, why bother making it sound a little less offensive?
Don’t get me wrong. There are good times, times of laughter and joy, but, generally speaking, the older I get, the more I realize that the bad in this world definitely outweighs the good. In just the past few weeks, we personally know a mother who has lost her adult son, a family whose baby was born severely premature, a daughter who is taking care of her seriously ill mother in the hospital, a young man struggling with mental illness, children who lost their father, a woman who started her battle with cancer, a son who lost his brother and father only days apart… The list goes on and on.
We are surrounded by struggles: political dissension, physical illness, social unrest, and personal pain. Marriages are breaking; families are crumbling; people are dying.
Life is just really, really hard.
That’s why it’s amazing to read through Romans 8. The author tosses out brazen statements like candy at a Christmas parade (pre-COVID of course).
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Verse 1
“Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Verse 14
“Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed” Verse 18
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Verse 28
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Verse 31
“We are more than conquerors.” Verse 37
Nothing can “separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” V 39
Like a politician on the day before the election, Paul makes a lot of big promises. Thankfully, he isn’t the one who has to fulfill them. He can make such audacious statements because they are hinged on three little words at the start of this chapter “through Christ Jesus.”
Through Christ Jesus, we are not condemned because He paid the price for our sins.
Through Christ Jesus, God adopted us as His children and filled us with His Spirit.
Through Christ Jesus, we eagerly await the redemption of our bodies and all of creation.
Through Christ Jesus, God can use everything for our good.
Through Christ Jesus, we know that we have God on our side.
Through Christ Jesus, we are on the winning team.
Through Christ Jesus, we are confident that nothing can separate us from God’s love.
Make no mistake. Paul was keenly aware of the trials and tribulations of this world. He had been whipped, stoned, shipwrecked, and snake-bitten. He knew what it was like to be cold, hungry, thirsty, and persecuted, but Paul knew the secret of victory is in Christ. He starts the chapter with Christ and ends the chapter with Christ and sandwiches a whole lot of meat in between.
Even winning teams have to practice. In order to finish well, any good runner has to train. For those who know Christ Jesus, victory is guaranteed, but the race still has to be run. The course can still be rocky. So, Paul gives a few steps to help us stay on track. In the midst of our struggles with people-pleasing and status building, depression and anxiety, grief and insecurity, there are a few primary things we can do to help us have victory in our lives today as well as in heaven in eternity.
Set your mind on what the Spirit desires. Verse 5 This isn’t saying to just think about heaven or quote Bible verses all day (although there’s nothing wrong with either of those suggestions). It’s reminding us to have a Godly perspective. We should see sin as God sees sin. We should guard our hearts and minds from evil influences. We should strive to live a life that is God-pleasing.
Put to death the misdeeds of the body. Verse 13 We are all sinners. Even after we accept Christ’s forgiveness and give our hearts and lives to him, we will not live perfectly. However, Paul tells us that we have an obligation to try. We should not continue to live in perpetual known sin.
Wait patiently. Verse 25 Believers have a promised reward in heaven, but we are not exempt from the trials and tribulations of this earth. Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.” (Matthew 16:33). God promises that He is with us, that His Spirit helps us and even intercedes on our behalf, but He does not promise that life here will be all roses and sunshine. Between now and eternity, we must hold on to the hope of Christ Jesus and wait patiently.
Here’s the problem. All of us want to skip to the end. We want to claim the trophy. We want to wear the crown. We want to raise our hands in victory and pump our fists in triumph, but a victor only becomes the victor at the end of the race, at the end of the battle, when the training and competition have been completed. Becoming more than a conqueror requires a relationship with Jesus. It also requires a knowledge of God’s Word and obedience to it. As long as we are on earth, there is still work to be done.
Check back next week to read Amy Whitlock’s guest blog on how to conquer anxiety.