There Has Never Been an Easter Sunday without a Good Friday First

Have you ever struggled in life and wondered “Why is this happening to me? How long do I have to suffer for? Why won’t God just do something about this?” I know I sure have, and it’s amazing that despite my belief and trust in God, I can’t help but allow my doubts to creep in and I sometimes begin to paint a bleak and dismal future in my mind. Yet, if I when I hold on with faith just a little bit longer, I have almost always found the “sun through the dark clouds” in the situation that seemed at some points improbable and the obstacles seemed impassable.

Now, we know that God is both the “author and perfector” (see Hebrews 12:2), so He clearly has a plan for both trials, temptations and tribulations in our life. And whether “He wills or He allows” struggles in our lives, He has offered us His Son, not only as Our Savior, but also as a reminder of the importance of faith and continuing to believe even when it seems so dark and hope seems so bleak. 

For a Biblical reference of this truth, look no further than the story of Easter. For Christians, Easter Sunday is a time of great celebration, renewal and restored faith. However, there has never been an Easter Sunday without a Good Friday first. In Biblical times, just a third day prior, Christ in flesh died on a cross with no “magic change” or “God just fix this for me type of intervention”.  In many ways that is how our lives work: we face great trials and struggle, and often times we face way more pain, suffering and adversity than we ever imagined we would. Yet, if we choose to give up and stop believing, we would almost certainly miss the personalized miracles and blessings that God had in store for us. In other words, “if we stop believing on Saturday, we will never realize the full glory of Easter Sunday”.

As a Christian therapist, I have personally witnessed countless tales of people’s suffering and struggles, yet I am never ceased to be amazed at the glorious transformation of character and faith that happens when people are able to “not grow weary or lose heart” (see Hebrews 12:3). I hope and pray that you too will “bear your cross” (see Matthew 16:24-26) when called to, so despite the conflict, trial and tribulation, you are able to find growth in your character, solace in your heart and a life renewed in Christ.

Justin

What is Your Relationship with Technology?

So what is your relationship with modern technology and the digital “improvements” in our society? How often do you engage in the never ending list of technology enhancements in our modern lifestyle? Do you find yourself trying to resist the inundation of technology updates and frequent invites for “connecting” with others in the social media world? Or are you slowly sliding into a shift of your daily activities that includes frequent phone and email checking, watching the latest video that went “viral”, and getting lost in all the high-tech features that are offered on your appliances?

Whether we like it or not, encourage it or not, fear it or not, the psychological atmosphere of our world is being drastically reconfigured and our experiences of life, relationships and spirituality are being tested in ways that are unique from anything society has experienced before.

Even as God-honoring Christians, our attitudes, beliefs, experiences and life circumstances will place us all across the wide spectrum of technology supporters or resistors. Yet, it is hard to deny that on a daily basis our personal, relational and spiritual walk isn’t being altered or at the very least being challenged to conform and move more towards the default line of “being of this world”.

While there are many different ways to take this discussion, my larger goal is to do just that….open a candid discussion throughout a variety of seasons and contexts of your life on how the modern technology driven world has, is and may continue to affect the spiritual walk you are intending to maintain. I hope to follow up with many more blog posts that will help present and introduce many key topics related to the implications from this modern age of technology. I intend to provide an abundance of literature, research, follow up articles and practical “how to’s” to help individuals, youth, parents, church leaders and educators alike to help better equip you with knowledge, encouragement and fuel for discussion to promote a healthy stewardship in your technology affected spiritual journey.

Keeping in line with Christ’s teachings of “Where your treasure is, there your heart will also be” (Luke 12:34) and “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money…… (or technology in this case) (Matthew 6:24), my hope is to present from a position of advocating spiritual stewardship of technology, not necessarily overreacting to it as an alarmist, while definitely not endorsing a blind use of it without strong considerations of the multifaceted impacts that one may expose themselves to by over engaging in the “pleasures of the world”.

So what words would you use to describe what technology has become in your life, in your family, in your heart?

A source of enjoyment and enhanced entertainment?

An opportunity to stay connected with others? To feel engaged in the larger world around you?

A distraction? An excuse to temporarily check out?

A constant temptation? A source of conflict and tension in your household?

A threat to the safety and integrity of your children and family?

And so on and so on……..


Justin