Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. Matthew 4:18-20

When Jesus asked his disciples to follow Him, they left everything and followed Him. From that point on, everything changed. Everything was different. It was the beginning of something great. From that moment on, their lives looked totally different than they had just a few hours prior.

In the the past few months I have left a place that I was at for 9 years, I started a new job, I am helping plant a church, I’m starting a new youth ministry, and I just go engaged! My life today looks totally different than it did just two months ago.

Through that process, I realized that life can change dramatically in the blink of an eye. God could ask you to do something today that will make your life entirely different tomorrow. It’s one of the most exciting things about following God.

If you are in a bad situation, God can bring you into a good situation in one moment.

If you’re out of shape, you could be in great shape in no time!

If you think your best days are behind you, God can make your life better than it’s ever been!

If you’re sick, you could be healed and doing things you weren’t able to do in no time!

If you’re loving where you are, enjoy it! You never know when your life could go another direction!

No matter where you are today, realize that God could turn it around or make it better than it’s ever been in the blink of an eye.

Always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence. -I Peter 3:15

I heard some un-churched friends the other day talking about some of my friends in my church. They were talking about how everything seems to go so well for Christians, they always seem happy, and always seem to have great relationships. Then one of them asked, “I wonder if it’s all just an act. If they just pretend everything is awesome.”

People that aren’t living for God can very easily get into a mindset that Christians never have any problems and that they’re perfect. Then they look at their own lives and think, “I’ll never measure up, or never be able to live a life like that.” They think they’re too far removed from God for Him to do anything good in their lives.

I thought about that a lot, and the I Peter 3:15 came to mind. As Christians, I recognized that people should be seeing our lives and recognize that they’re different.

So, “Is it all just and act?”Do Christians just fake being happy? Fake having good relationships?

Not at all, but that doesn’t mean the Christian life is perfect and we never go through any tough times or struggles. In fact, we go through the same situations anyone else does in life.

It’s our faith in a faithful God that gets us through anything and gives us a life we never dreamed possible.

You can have the same hope we do. Your life doesn’t have to be an act, doesn’t have to be perfect, and your life definitely doesn’t have to be miserable.

If you’ve been watching Christians and seeing their lives, and all you can do is be judgemental and think it’s all an act, and yet you’re living a miserable life, I’m here to tell you that God can do the same thing in your life that he’s done in mine, my friends, and the people you think are faking it.

I’d encourage you to read my imperfect story and then ask God to show Himself to you in your life. It’ll be the first step to a life of Hope, peace, & joy you’ve  never experienced before. Instead of being judgemental of Christians who seem to be living a life you’d like to live, why not be open and ask God to do what He’s done in their life, in your life. Go for it, and don’t look back, you won’t regret it!

Thoughts?

¹⁰ “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. -Job 23:10

Do you ever feel like giving up? Feel like God’s abandoned you? Feel like you’re all alone in your battle? I know I do. It’s easy to say that everything is awesome and we never go through any struggles as Christians, but it simple isn’t true. While living for God is awesome, Jesus said we’d have trouble in this world, but to fear not, cause He’s overcome the world!

I was listening to a daily devotion by Rick Renner the other day and he spoke about how interested God is in our character development. I started thinking back to a lot of things I had to go through in life that weren’t easy and made me want to quit. I recognized that going through some of those things were absolutely critical to become the man of God I am today. I also recognize that to be the man God intends me to be in five more years, I’ll have to go through even more tests and trials!

All of us will have seasons in life when we’re going through trials. In fact, if you haven’t gone through a testing period lately, I would submit to you that you’re not growing in your relationship with God. But there is always hope in the midst of any battle!

James said to count it joy when you go through trials, because your faith & endurance has a chance to grow, and when you get through to the other side of your battle, you’ll be perfect, complete, and lacking nothing!

God knows where you are, and He is developing you into the man or woman of God He has created you to be. To get there, we’re going to have to go through some things, but take heart, because God loves YOU so much that knows exactly where you are, exactly where you’re going, exactly the timing He needs you to get there, and how to get you there.

Don’t Quit – Keep Going