Take A Chill Pill?

“Why don’t you go take a chill pill!” Such is the statement sometimes made to the anxious or hyper individual. In a world of just about instant everything, pills or injections to bring quicker results are advertised with hype and snatched up with eager hope and expectation. Some desiring to lose weight without change of diet or exercise look for a pill advertised to do the job. Pills promoted as being able to energize the body or sharpen the mind are touted as wonder drugs. It wasn’t that many years ago some claimed we would someday have a pill that could replace a full several course meal. I’ll admit I enjoy the taste of food too much to even entertain the thought of utilizing such a pill.

However, the “give it to me now” or “make it happen for me the EASY WAY” mentality has also crept into religion. Drive-in church is available for those who want to worship without getting out of their car. It has even been suggested recently that many may soon replace their church attendance with “on-line church” from the comfort of their own home and at a time more convenient for each individual.

Package it up! Make it easier and quicker to swallow! Give me a pill! Is that what we are seeking? Now, before you tell me to go take a “chill pill”, consider the things which have contributed to the growth of your faith and spiritual walk. Life certainly would be easier if God had provided an inoculation against sin, a pill of righteousness, and an injection of His wisdom. However, God has not chosen to work things in that way.

Note what Paul pointed to as worthy of our rejoicing.
“(1) Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (2) Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (3) More than that, we REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS, KNOWING THAT SUFFERING PRODUCES ENDURANCE, (4) and ENDURANCE PRODUCES CHARACTER, and CHARACTER PRODUCES HOPE, (5) and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” ( Romans 5:1-5 ESV)

We may not particularly like some of the ways our growth comes, but we can certainly develop an appreciation for them. God has given us His Spirit to aid us in the process. And He wants us to accept His wisdom in how some things are best developed in our life.

No pill can ever replace, nor bring better results, than what God provides. Let us press on in trusting obedient faith, as God nurtures and renews our life.

Have a great day APPRECIATING GROWING GOD’S WAY!
Carl

P.S. As I sat down to setup the "teEn-MAIL" to go out, I noticed we had received an e-mail from an address that was called @getfitwhileyousit.com

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[This focus was originally sent 12/27/2001 (Edited some with passage changed to ESV)]

See other teEn-MAIL on Christian Growth