WHEN YOU ARE CONFUSED AND FED UP WITH LIFE

5th OCTOBER 2020

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair” – 2 Corinthians 4:8

Recently, I had a chat with a certain young man who told me he was completely fed up with life, and if he is not getting the solution to his problems, might contemplate suicide. The unfortunate aspect of this episode is that the young man saw me as his last hope of getting a measurable solution to his problems. From one pathetic story to the other, the young man told me of his brutal ordeal in life. I listened carefully to him for a while, and thereafter, I responded,’ is that all”?  He could not believe that I appeared insensitive to his plight. Then he gazed at me and said hauntingly, ‘it’s because you have not experienced what I am currently passing through! I have experienced more than that, I retorted, immediately. “But I think you are ungrateful. Despite all you have said, you owe God a continuous sacrifice of thanksgiving”, I concluded.

My encounter with this young man was the first time of meeting someone contemplating suicide. The much I knew of such matters are narrations from books and movies. The major problem of this young man was simply, cash to enable him to fix the various issues of life.

Life is beyond our problems. Therefore, we must always look ahead of each problem. Like I told the young man, I have also had several disappointments and failed aspiration; 80% of the time, I had to do things all alone by myself – no help in sight! In fact, I am used to things not working out the way I like! But I learned to let go of each failure, and focus on getting it right subsequently.

Everyone does have one problem or the other. There is none without an issue to fix. The difference is our individual abilities and resilience to keep hope alive even in the face of ravaging situation. It is not unlikely that you are currently facing some issues as well, and you are like feeling it’s all over! The word of God tells you this morning to have courage, no matter what we go through. We surely will come out of every condition we find ourselves. We must not be despaired or discouraged by the problems of life.

There are so many reasons we could be fed up with life. For instance, some are fed up because what they desire from life isn’t coming through and they had become frustrated along the line. Others are frustrated due to lack of cash, or barrenness, ill health, stress, depression, mood disorder, etc. Sometimes, it may just be nothing in particular that gets you frustrated! Maybe you are just viewing the world from a different perspective in which the world has lost its excitement and vibrancy! And so, you are just not happy!

Like the young man in my example above, everything he tried to build up just gets knocked down and everything he tried to do just goes wrong. Therefore, he saw no point living anymore. It appears he had become God’s punching bag!

It is not too clear why people crazily take a decision to end it all, just because they are experiencing one problem or the other.  For the average Christian, or even a philosopher or a mystic of some kind, the universe can seem a bit mysterious and the motives behind events can seem a bit strange. Nevertheless, to be fed up with life is a terrible shame and it means being fed up with everything that God created. When you think about the size of the universe and the beauty of everything in it, then it’s preposterous to suggest that you can be fed up with all of it. Life is filled with limitless possibilities and we are completely free to explore them. It might not feel like it to you, but that is the reality.

What is very clear to me is the fact that. When we become fed up and tending toward the negative extreme, there is a disconnect somewhere. It is either the person suffering is dislocated from the love of God, or an inner void has been created in him which has to be filled with God’s spirit of life. God’s spirit of life and love cures every situation, and restore all things back to normalcy according to the perfect will of God, not your will, but as God wills. Therefore, stick to God during difficult moments. (Joshua 1:6-8 )

There are many things we can do when we are fed up:

·        Tell yourself you are bound to fulfil your mission in life. Therefore, you will not die but live to declare the glory of God.

·        Ask God to fill your inner void with his spirit. Endeavour to enter into His presence daily. Stick to His word. The presence of the Lord breaks every yoke.

·        Look beyond each failure, and cultivate a deliberate attitude to move forward, welcoming a new dawn!

·        Cure loneliness and depression as well as stress, by fellowshipping with God. That you can do through meditation, listening and watching edifying music and movies. Outdoor walk and spending quality time with friends and family will also help.

·        Create a new approach to life; Immerse yourself into the things that keep you busy, and rewarding to others, even if you have no immediate reward therefrom. Such activities will open positive doors for you in good time.

PRAYER

Father in the name of Jesus Christ, take hold of my heart and fill me with your divine spirit of life and love. I shall live, but not die. I commit all my anxiety and confusion into your able hands. Take dominion and preeminence in Jesus name. Amen.

FURTHER READING: Joshua 1:6-8; James 4: 1 – 17; Ecclesiastes 3:1