I know you have God, but…

It has become known to me that when a person is going through various things – whether it be suffering or temptations, it can be difficult for others to see you being joyful, peaceful, and content. It is in these circumstances that I have heard this phrase, after being asked “How are you so peaceful?” My response is “I have God!” And they continue on with… “I know you have God, but…” The but is usually followed with, “but that’s just so hard” or “But you are SO peaceful” or “that’s just too much to handle.”

Mind you, just me responding “I have God!” Has taken me too long to be comfortable saying. I too was that person not realizing how big and powerful God is.  Too often, we are the Israelites looking at the promised land – then coming back and being afraid for our lives. Even though Moses told them how God carries them like a son, He’s rescued them from bondage, of course He can rescue you from the Amorites! The text says “BUT….” And continued on with how the Israelites failed to trust the power of God, and lost their lives because of it (Deuteronomy 1:29-34) 

Let’s put it in layman terms. Let’s say it the way we feel – and the way we never actually admit.

I know you have God, but just reading your bible isn’t enough to help that anxiety of yours. I know you have God, but even you need a break from all this stuff! I know you have God, but He doesn’t directly answer our prayers, so come on – He’s not the answer to this problem! I know you have God, but eternal life is later- that’s the promise of peace He’s talking about in the Bible – it’s OK if you’re not peaceful now!

Yes, the world is awful sometimes. The world is dreadful. It is not our home. It is that way, because of sin. Yet God has put things in our path – He has given us eternity in our hearts – so that we can find Him in the midst of all of it. He is big enough, He is powerful enough, to give us peace NOW. In fact, that is the goal of our suffering! If I am not peaceful in spite of suffering, do I  KNOW God?

Our purpose on this earth is to glorify God. Yet if I am carried away (meaning, I let it consume me – temptation and struggles are not sinful) by the Devil and his lies through  depression, anxiety, distraction, suffering – the list could go on – am I leaning on God or myself through that?  If I only see His power in heaven, not on this earth, do I really KNOW who He is, and His love for me?

Instead, God should be the answer to everything. He is the reason for all good on this earth. He is the reason you can get out of bed on those hard days – and if you can’t get out of bed one day, He’s the reason someone came and pulled you out of bed. He’s the reason that person at the coffee shop gave you that extra smile – He’s the reason that the baby girl who is paralyzed still has that twinkle in her eye.

I’m not saying we are all perfect – we have all sinned, we all need His mercy desperately. I struggle with anxiety, I struggle with depression, I struggle to have the correct perspective amidst intense suffering. I need to know God more, I need to make Him bigger. Yet, let’s make sure the things we say to ourselves in our mind and what we tell others are not contrary to the truth. Instead, let’s fill our heads with His word, His peace! The world wants us to think anxiety and discontentment are a way of life – let’s be different. 

I know you have God – Praise Him for giving you such peace! I know you have God, because I see that you are not anxious anymore! I know you have God, because you choose to be joyful in the midst of suffering, instead of wearing it like a black coat hanging from your shoulders. I know your have God – blessed be HIS name!