Are We Supposed to Enjoy Life or is This God’s Basic Training?
Aren't we supposed to ENJOY life?
A friend of mine having a particularly frustrating day, texted me to ask “Aren’t we supposed to ENJOY life?”. I honestly was completely unprepared for the question, but it made me stop and think. Are we really here to ENJOY life? Is that why God has us here? I’m VERY grateful for all the blessings that come my way and I’m sure you are too, but God tells us we WILL have trouble in this life.
John 16:33
“I [Jesus] have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
If you think God promises us a life on easy street with no struggles, I suggest you Google all the scriptures in the Bible that refer to trouble, trials, fear, anxiety and worry. There are PLENTY to choose from! It is quite clear that we WILL encounter trials! If that dive into scripture leaves you with any doubt, there is always Romans 8:35-39 which lists off all kinds of trouble that should not separate us from the love of Christ. It seems pretty clear to me that God wants us to understand that we are going to encounter some seriously difficult HARDSHIPS in this life. He also assures us that he is right there with us and we will be strengthened through them.
Romans 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The American way promises us that we have the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” in the United States Declaration of Independence. Three inalienable rights that have been provided by God, which our government was created to protect. Maybe as Americans we feel like it is our RIGHT to happiness. However, if you break this down, it is interesting that you are guaranteed the right to life and liberty, but ONLY guaranteed the ability to PURSUE happiness – which you may or may not ever obtain in your pursuit!
Even the American dream doesn't PROMISE us happiness
My friend’s question about enjoying life started me pondering, wouldn’t it be a whole lot easier if we considered life here on earth as basic training for God’s purposes? What if we didn’t expect this life to be enjoyable, we just expected to be strengtheneed and trained for what we were created to do. It seems it would be a whole lot easier to endure the difficulties that keep coming our way if we viewed life through this mind set. You don’t see soldiers in basic whining about how tough it is BECAUSE they EXPECT to be trained. I am no expert on military training, but I have the tiniest bit of insight as I was an Army wife for 3 years. No newly enlisted soldier goes into basic training EXPECTING to enjoy it. Likewise, we were not promised to ENJOY our strengthening.
I am guilty of getting frustrated with circumstances, I may forever be learning and being strengthened by the challenges that come against me (possibly until I draw my last breath). Hopefully, God will continue to train every one of us up and we will be challenged less and less by the difficulties that come against us. Challenged to see the purpose, be tested and overcome quicker instead of getting overwhelmed. These trials will continue growing our confidence in our Lord to depths we couldn’t even conceive of at times earlier in our lives. (Don’t Waste This is a post that can help give you a different mind shift on the troubles we face.)
Boot camp is meant to transform the soldier
Can you imagine a soldier going into boot camp and coming out completely unchanged? Is that what we are doing here before our Lord? For you and me both, I sure hope not. I can assure you the US Army Infantry Sergeants I knew 25 years ago would have been none too pleased by that! Boot camp was to make boys into men and mere humans into a military weapon. I don’t believe that we are here on earth to remain unchanged either.
The vision of life here on earth being training for God’s purposes is an incredible image of one way we could shift how we view daily troubles. We can overcome the defeatist attitude, anxiety and depression with a “BRING IT” attitude! We are being readied for battle! Trained for the next attack from the enemy by every situation that this experience has provided us. Armor up!
And always remember.....
Romans 8:31
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Matthew 24 :42-44
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
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3 thoughts on “Are We Supposed to Enjoy Life or is This God’s Basic Training?”
The thought of basic training really resonated with me and I’m glad it spoke to you too. Definitely a great reminder for the next round of troubles. God Bless!
I love the thought of being in “basic training”!
It will help to remember this when the next round of trouble comes…and it will…
Thanks Val
Amen to this!