Emotions & Thought Life Archives

Category: Emotions & Thought Life

If God Exists Why Does He Allow Evil & Suffering?

Sep. 06 Apologetics, Emotions & Thought Life Comments Off

Many skeptics and atheists have asked some of these questions: If God exists, why doesn’t God stop innocent people from getting senselessly shot and killed by a crazy gunman; Why would God do nothing as a young child is raped and abused; Why would God watch people die from starvation every day or why doesn’t God stop a hurricane from destroying people’s homes and lives?
In other words – if God exists, and if God is loving, then why does He allow evil and suffering?

In order to understand the issue of evil and suffering and why they exist, we need to have an understanding of the following:

1. The Nature of Mankind
Mankind is sinful or imperfect. We are capable of doing evil things to each other because of the sinful condition of our heart. We are not only capable of harming others – but our own sinful actions can bring harm to ourselves or our own lives.

In Jeremiah 17:9, God says: “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”

2 Timothy 3:1-4 says: But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God

Therefore, Scripture is clear that mankind contributes to the evil and suffering that is in the world because the condition of our own hearts are sinful.
For example, whenever we hear that someone cheated on his wife; or that somebody is abusing others; or when we lie and deceive one another – it is important to understand that these actions and many others such as those mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:1-4, contribute to the suffering of others and to the evil that is in the world.
It is the nature of cause and effect. Our actions affect others directly or indirectly.

God has also given mankind freewill. Therefore man is not a machine – but instead man has the ability to make his own choices and decisions. This means that man has the freewill to make good choices and bad choices. God says “See, I set before you today life and good, death and evil…” (Deuteronomy 30:15-19).
Adam and Eve were given a choice in the Garden of Eden to either obey God or disobey Him. Eventually they decided to disobey God and as a result, a once perfect world became imperfect and full of evil because of the entrance of sin in the life of man and on the earth (Genesis 3:1-24).
Therefore mankind must accept responsibility and accountability for evil existing in the world. There is no human being in the world who can claim that he/she has never sinned or done anything bad.
Romans 3:10 says that “none is righteous, no, not one”.

2. God Can Use Evil To Fulfill His Plan & Purpose
In Genesis there is the story of a young man by the name of Joseph whose older brothers were so jealous of him that they planned to murder Joseph (Genesis 37:18). Later instead of killing Joseph, the brothers decided to throw Joseph in a pit and then they sold him as a slave to the Ishmaelites who then took him to Egypt to live as a slave (Genesis 37:26-28). In Egypt Joseph is falsely accused of rape by Potiphar’s wife and he’s thrown into prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
These bad circumstances in Joseph’s life depict and reflect some of the most unfair and terrible things that can happen to a person in life. One could say that Joseph did not deserve the evil and injustice that happened to him at the hands of his own family and in Egypt.
However the reality is that God is able to use all situations – whether good or evil to fulfill His own plan and purposes. Joseph himself came to this realization in the midst of his sufferings.
We learn that because of his trials Joseph grew spiritually and God used Joseph’s experiences to prepare him and mold him into the type of man that God wanted him to be. Even through his circumstances, the Bible depicts that God was with Joseph.
Joseph eventually meets his brothers who once tried to kill him at a time when his brothers were in great need of assistance. Joseph says to his brothers who had once tried to kill him by saying “… You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:19-20).

Many people who have gone through bad experiences or traumatic circumstances are often some of the most equipped people to help, empathize or counsel others to overcome the same issues.

Romans 8:28 says: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

God works ALL things together for GOOD. This means that God works BOTH good and bad situations for GOOD and for His own purposes.

3. God is Patient to Sinners
God is so loving that He is patient even to evil people. God is so loving that He is willing to give even the wicked a chance to repent and accepted Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:9 says: The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

The truth is, we are all sinners who are not deserving of Heaven. However, God is gracious, loving and patient towards us.
Therefore if it appears as if God is delaying justice; or if it appears as if God is not dealing with the problem of evil – it’s because God is also exercising patience towards those who are not born again Christians. God is still working to bring many people to repentance and to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour.
The apostle Paul is an example of a man who did wicked things before his conversion. Paul killed many Christians until he was converted by Jesus Christ. Therefore Christ showed patience, love and grace towards Paul who had once killed Christians (Acts 9:1-19).

4. God Is Sovereign and In Total Control
Even though evil exists and even though there appears to be so much confusion in the world – God is fully and always in control.
There is nothing that can surprise God and there is nothing that God cannot handle.
In Isaiah 46:9-10, God says that He declares the end from the beginning and that He shall accomplish all that He plans and purposes.
With our finite minds it is difficult to understand or grasp why God allows specific evil events to occur – such as the murder of innocent people or the abuse of a child.
When we read the book of Job in the Bible – Job suffered many pains and losses – yet in the end, God does not explain to Job the reasons why He allowed Job to suffer.
All we should know and trust as finite human beings is that God is sovereign and in control. He is able to use all situations for His plans and purposes. We must also know that eventually God will indeed rid the world of all evil.

The Difference Between Love & Infatuation

Jul. 07 Emotions & Thought Life, Love, Marriage & Family Comments Off

Have you ever been in a relationship where you thought you loved someone and you thought you were going to spend your whole life together, but only to be heartbroken?
Have you ever been in a relationship where you thought you married a perfect loving person but only to discover that your loving relationship was not as “perfect” as you think? The person you once loved has become the person you hate or desire to break-up with.

It’s amazing that one of the most misunderstood words when it comes to the subject of relationships is the word “love”.
Many people want to be loved and many people want to be in love. However, it seems as if very few people understand the true meaning of love. Furthermore, few people are able to differentiate between love and infatuation.

What is Infatuation?
Infatuation is defined as an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone or something.

Therefore infatuation doesn’t last long; it happens instantly and quickly.
Infatuation is driven and fueled by lust; it is all about sex pleasure and physical affections
Infatuation believes that your partner or the person you desire is “perfect”; it makes you believe that you are in love with a someone who can do no wrong when realistically none of us are perfect
Infatuation makes you feel like you know everything about your partner but yet you have known your partner for a short time and most certainly may know very little about him.
Infatuation is interested in self-gratification or self-satisfaction; your passions are not about what you can give or contribute to the relationship – but your passions are about what you can get from the relationship
Infatuation can consist of pure intense feelings and very little volitional or rational thought. Therefore decisions are made purely out of feelings and emotions rather than rational reasoning.
Infatuation is therefore like a roller-coaster; One minute the relationship is great and the next minute the relationship is bad and then later its great again
Infatuation makes one overly jealous and over protective; it desires control but also fears loss
Infatuation cannot be satisfied; it usually wants more and if it does not get what is wants, it will look elsewhere which results in broken relationships.

What is Love?
Love is exactly the opposite of infatuation. Love is more than just feelings and emotions – but love is also about actions and principles.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says the following about the subject of love:
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

The truth is that all kinds of relationships will face tests and trials. There is no loving relationship that is immune to challenges and problems. The thing that binds relationships together is true love.
Any relationship that is bound by infatuation alone will never last.
However, love is what binds people together especially through trials and challenges in life. True love remains faithful through all situations. True love sees the flaws of others but still loves them regardless.
True love will always help to ensure that you try to do the right thing within your relationship. True love gives; it is not self-centred. It respects others and does not look for its own personal gain but it focuses on others.

Therefore understanding the difference between love and infatuation is one of the most important things in any relationship.

How to Deal with Depression

Oct. 22 Emotions & Thought Life, Prayer Comments Off

What is depression and how do we deal with depression? The Bible clearly tells us that we live in an imperfect, fallen world where we experience pain, hurt, fear and so many different emotions and feelings.
Jesus said that in this world we will experience problems and tribulations (John 16:33). Therefore it should not come as any surprise when we face circumstances and situations that may cause us to experience extreme sadness or some form of depression.

Depression can be defined as the following:
• feelings of severe despondency and dejection.
• a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person’s thoughts, behavior, feelings, and sense of well-being
• a mood disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies

People with a depressed mood may be notably sad, anxious, or empty; they may also feel notably hopeless, helpless, dejected, or worthless. Other symptoms expressed may include senses of guilt, irritability, or anger.
Depression affects how you feel about yourself and makes life more difficult to manage from day to day.

I think everybody has experienced some type of depression in his/her life. The issue is not that we get sad or depressed but the real issue is HOW we respond to depression or to situations that may have the potential to cause us to become depressed.

In the Bible the Psalms are a good example of where the psalmists would express sadness, fear, guilt and even depression. In the Psalms, David would write and often express his anxieties and depressions during different periods of his life.
However, what you would notice is that despite his anxiety and depression, David would always express hope and confidence in God. In the midst of his depressive situation, David would direct his hope and faith that God would comfort him and deliver him from his difficult situation.

Psalms 43:5 is an example where the psalmist expresses sadness and hurt but yet expresses hope and confidence in God in the midst of depression. The verse says: Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

In 1 Samuel 1, we also discover that Hannah had many depressive moments because of her problem of being barren. She couldn’t conceive and so she felt extremely sad and depressed.
However, the Bible shows us that Hannah’s solution to her situation was to direct her problem to God and pray to God for a child.
Therefore her trust and hope was in God to resolve her situation.

During times of sadness and depression, we should never continue to focus on our negative situation. We should also avoid suicidal thoughts. Instead we should be encouraged to turn to God and believe in the promises of God that he will protect and deliver us.
The Bible says “Cast your burdens on the Lord and He will sustain you” (Psalms 55:22).
Philippians 4:6 tells us that we should not worry about anything but instead we should pray to God about everything.
Therefore during a period of depression – express your feelings to God. Let God know about your hurt and pain. Don’t bottle up your feelings and pain but rather, cast all your anxieties on God because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

It’s important to also stay focused on God’s word and to meditate on His promises. Also give thanks and praise to God in your situation and you will find that the peace of God will rule your heart and mind.

If you’re going through depression and you have never had a relationship with God, it’s important that you give your life to God.
Without God in our life, we cannot be equipped to deal with many of the problems that come our way. In a world that if full of sin and problems, the only answer for every situation is Jesus Christ.
With Christ in us, we will have a relationship with God and we are equipped through Christ to deal with the challenges of life.

DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN or A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST???

1. ACKNOWLEDGE: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
You must acknowledge that you are a sinner and that you therefore need Jesus in your life.

2. REPENT: “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3), “Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19)
Repenting means: to change your mind; a sincere turning away, in heart, mind and action;
Therefore God wants you to repent of sinful values and of sinful living. God wants you to decide to
follow Him and to make Jesus the Lord of your life.

3. CONFESSION: “If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9)
God is a forgiving God. God will forgive any sin that you have done because Jesus died for ALL your sins and to set you free from the bondage of all types of sin in your life.

4. BELIEVE: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
You must believe that ONLY Jesus can save you and restore your relationship with God. You must believe that Jesus is the ONLY way by which you can have everlasting life and escape from eternal separation from God. You must believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and resurrected from the grave.
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive him, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12)
By faith, You must receive Jesus as Your Lord & Savior and therefore; you become a child of God; you become born again; you become a Christian; you restore your broken relationship with God

Why Not Make Your Eternal Decision NOW?

We become born again Christians by GRACE through FAITH or TOTAL TRUST in Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior (Galatians 3:26) & (Ephesians 2:8,9). Salvation is a FREE gift received through FAITH in Christ.

PLEASE NOTE: You can choose to pray in your own words. This prayer is a sample prayer and it is only an EXPRESSION of your faith, belief & trust in Jesus. Salvation is by GRACE through FAITH or BELIEVING in Christ Jesus as your Lord & Saviour.

“Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your love. I thank You that You died on the cross for me and resurrected so that I may have life through You.
I confess Lord that I have sinned against You and today I ask You to forgive me of all of my sins, past present and future.
I repent of all of my sins and I ask You to cleanse me Jesus.
Thank You for forgiving my sins.
From this moment, come into my life Lord Jesus & take full control of my life. I want to follow You Jesus and I want to follow Your ways. Save me and from today, make me the person You want me to be.
I receive You Lord Jesus right now by faith. I trust You as my Lord and Savior – Amen”

Have you accepted & believed in Jesus Christ as a result of reading this article? If so please acknowledge by clicking the “I Have Accepted Jesus Christ” button below

How to Overcome the Fear of Dying

Aug. 31 Emotions & Thought Life Comments Off

When we think about fear and the various things in life that we are afraid of – there are at least 3 common reasons as to why people have anxieties and fears in their life.
1. As people we fear the things and circumstances that we can’t control
2. As people we fear the unknown and the uncertain things in our life
3. As people we fear the things and the situations that we don’t understand

Therefore when it comes to the fear of death or the fear of dying, there are many of us who have a fear of the unknown.
For many of us, death is an unpleasant thing to think about or dwell on because its unpleasantness brings with it fear and anxiety.

If ever you’ve thought about death, you might at some point have asked yourself the following questions: “What happens when I die?”; “Is there an after-life?”; “What will happen to my family and loved ones when I die?”

It’s perfectly normal and valid to ask ourselves these questions. These questions are not only normal and valid but they also need to be answered.

So, how can you be certain what happens when you die? How can you be prepared for the inevitability of death? And how can we overcome the fear of death?

Acceptance
We need to accept that in an imperfect and fallen world, death cannot be avoided. As people we experience conception, birth and then death.
So it’s important to accept that our physical bodies will eventually die. Everyone will die at some point in life.
The Bible says that it’s appointed for man to die once and then after that comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27)

Certainty of the After-life
One of the reasons why people fear death is because some of us are not sure if there is an after-life or where we will go when we die. Others might think that one just seizes to exist after death, but still this belief does not remove the fear of death.

Jesus said that He is the way, the truth and the life and that no one will go to Heaven without Him (John 14:6).
The Bible also says that He who has the Son has life and He who does not have the Son of God does not have eternal life (1 John 5:12).

Therefore you can overcome the fear of death when you know and believe that you are going to a better place – and Heaven IS a better place.
The person who goes to Heaven is the person who has trusted and believed in Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and Saviour.
Also in John 14:2 Jesus says that in His Father’s house there are many mansions or many rooms and that He has prepared a place for us who accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour and trust that the only way to Heaven is through Him.

Change Your Perception of Death
Death is never a good thing. Death came about because of the sin of mankind.
However, another way of overcoming death is to change our perception of death.
Instead of seeing death as the end – if you’re a born again Christian – death is a departure from an imperfect and fallen world and the arrival into a world that is perfect and without blemish.
Therefore the Christian believer does not need to fear death because He will be with God in Heaven where everything is perfect.
The Bible says that to be absent from the body is to be with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Conclusion
Do you have the fear of death? Are you afraid of dying? Do you know what will happen to you when you die? Do you know where you will go when you die?
All the answers to these questions come only from one Person – Jesus Christ.
The only way to have eternal life and to be in Heaven when you die is through Jesus Christ and having a relationship with the living God.
Today if you’re not sure where you will go when you die, or if you’re afraid of death – Jesus Christ can give you peace and you can accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord & Saviour.

DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN or A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST???

Why Not Make Your Eternal Decision NOW?

Have you accepted & believed in Jesus Christ as a result of reading this article? If so please acknowledge by clicking the “I Have Accepted Jesus Christ” button below

The Secret to Happiness

Jul. 28 Emotions & Thought Life, Purpose Comments Off

Can money, wealth, fame & material possessions lead to everlasting joy and happiness? Could these things be what every person needs in order to be happy?
Ironically the majority of us seek after these things more than we seek anything else.

You might hear someone say: “if I had a lot of money – then that would make me happy”. Then when that person obtains the wealth and riches that he wanted, you discover some years later that the person got depressed and committed suicide.

You might hear another person say: “if I could just get a good job then I would be happy”. However, years after getting the job, you discover that person is not happy or satisfied with their job or career.

You might know someone who seeks just a bit more of that drug in order to get himself high because he feels that the more he takes drugs the more happy he will become. A few years later, you might discover that person has died from a drug overdose.

The truth is this – happiness isn’t found in possessions or a dependence on things.
Jesus said that our life does not consist in the abundance of things (Luke 12:15).

Neither money nor wealth nor material possessions can be deemed as evil within themselves.
However, when we observe the life of famous & wealthy people it’s easy to realize that the answer to happiness or joy does not lie in riches or fame but it lies in something much greater.
If rich & famous people fall into depression to the point of committing suicide then it means that neither their wealth nor their fame was enough to stop the depression nor prevent them from taking their own life.

If we desire to find the true secret to happiness then we need to look beyond the things that are temporary. If one’s happiness is based upon something temporary – like money – then that person’s happiness will die/end when the money runs out.

There are certain issues in one’s life – such as anxiety, depression and addiction that cannot be dealt with simply by having a lot of money or by being famous. Fame cannot deal with depression because such issues are internal issues.
Depression, anxiety, addiction and even suicidal thoughts are issues that affect the soul and spirit of a person. They affect the inward part of us.

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus says “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth & rust destroy & where thieves break in & steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys & where thieves do not break in & steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be”.
In the scripture above, Jesus encourages us not to inwardly dedicate ourselves to seeking after the temporary because the temporary will ultimately be destroyed. Happiness does not lie in the temporary.
Instead Jesus urges us to seek after the eternal things in heaven where nothing can be stolen or destroyed.

In John 15:11 Jesus says “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full”.
The kind of joy that Jesus gives us is the joy that remains inside of us despite the external circumstances. Therefore, it’s possible to go through challenges in your life but still have the joy of the Lord inside of you. It’s possible to go through a difficult situation but still remain confident in the Lord and have the peace of God which surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7).
True joy is found when we set our hearts on the eternal things in heaven and when we accept Jesus Christ as being the ultimate source of everlasting joy.
The truth is – without Jesus, we cannot have everlasting happiness.