Does God Really Want Me to Enjoy Life?

"Does God really want me to enjoy life?"

This may be a very common question you frequently hear or at least feel someone is asking.

Maybe your friend just broke up with her boyfriend because he keeps on hurting her emotionally and you feel that she is silently asking God whether He truly cares to give her a good partner.

Maybe your husband just got retrenched because of the recession we are into and worse, you need to pay monthly amortizations for your car and house loans and you yourself have asked God this question.

Maybe you closed your business because orders stopped coming in and what's worse is that you are a single parent with no family to go to.

I have actually asked this question to myself years back when I went through a series of 'very difficult' situations. I just lost my girlfriend of two years at a time when I also wanted to quit my job at a government bank as an environmental specialist because I wasn't happy of what I was doing.

While I was meditating on God's word, I was reminded of God's answer to this very common question. Read what Jesus Himself said in the Book of John.

"...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10 (NIV)

I like how the Amplified Bible says it (emphasis added).

"...I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)" - John 10:10 (AMP)

That's Jesus' own words telling you that the key to enjoying life is to trust in Him. To put your faith in Him. I believe that God wants us to enjoy life to the fullest. He wants us to experience His blessings everyday. He wants us to benefit from the gifts He has placed in us when He formed us in our mother's womb.

Does this mean that we will never experience difficulties and challenges in life? Do you fret and curse God (you don't have to say the words to curse Him) when you experience a painful situation like losing a loved one from a freak accident? I believe that everyone in the world will experience very difficult trials and terrible uncontrollable situations in their lives. And so the question is, "If God wants me to have a full life, why am I in this situation?"

We will not be spared from difficult situations. Seemingly bad things will happen to everyone, whether he is an atheist or a believer. I believe difficult situations and painful experiences are allowed by God primarily to change our heart. To change our perspective. To prepare us for an overflowing life. Let me explain.


I had wished, in fact prayed, to marry my first girlfriend. It would be my trophy because I dreamed of marrying the first woman I would love. I felt it was something that God would really bless because I had the best intentions for her. I was terribly wrong!

God took her away from me and did it in a very painful way. I was utterly devastated. There were many sleepless nights when it seemed I had no more tears to shed. This was when I asked God, "Do You really want me to have a happy life?" And, he answered.

Today, I am married to a very wonderful woman. A woman of God. Not perfect in many ways but definitely perfect for me. Besides, I am worse than her. Ask her about how many times I hurt her feelings...and you won't get an answer. That's how much she loves me. Haha.

Today, my first girlfriend is happily married to a very intelligent scientist in the US and they have a wonderful son. She and I are still good friends. In fact, her family and my family are good friends. Her parents are our ninong and ninang (godparents) in the wedding. Now tell me, how can that happen?

I'll tell you. Only God can make that happen. It's because God wants us to have a full life. He wants us to enjoy life. He knew my good friend and I were not compatible with each other in delivering our purpose in life together and so God had to take us out of that relationship even if it was painful and seemingly perfect.

Whatever it is you are facing right now, whether you lost a job or closed your business, or going through the pain of the death of a loved one, let me tell you that God wants you to enjoy life, until it overflows. He wants you to receive His blessings. But he wants you to let go of your "bad" situation and put your faith in Him. As I have read somewhere, if you ask for rain on a summer night, make sure you bring an umbrella because it will surely rain. That's an act of faith.

May you achieve true success!

Bryan

PS. God want's you to enjoy an overflowing life. Receive it today. Breathe in His blessing and enjoy life!

Trials are Life Lessons! Do You Want to Pass the Test?

Are you facing trials of many kinds today? The Bible says..

‘2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.’ – James 1:2-3 (NIV)

I can compare trials that we face in life to the lessons in our formal education. Before you can move on to the next level (say from Grade 1 to Grade 2), you have to learn the lessons and pass the examinations given by your teachers. In life, we face these “lessons” and before we can proceed to new lessons, we have to learn from our current lessons. Are you facing a difficult situation with your finances, your spouse, parenting, your boss or employees, your health, sick loved ones and even your mother-in-law? These are lessons for us...not to escape from but to learn from. Once we’ve learned our lessons, we are ready for the next one. “What? You mean this will not end?”, you might say. Yes, life is full of lessons, whether you are a 3-year old child playing in the living room or a 90-year old great grandfather sitting on a rocking chair. Life will throw lessons at you until you breathe your final breath.

So how can I learn from these lessons? Go back and read James 1:2-3 again,

‘2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.’ – James 1:2-3 (NIV)

In short, the Bible says that you should have the time of your life when you face your problems because you know that you will become a life champion...an over-comer!

So what’s your trial today? Embrace it! Learn from it! Then move on to the next lesson!

Trials of many kinds are lessons meant to develop our inner (and outer) strengths so that we can become complete.

‘4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.’ – James 1:4 (NIV)

May you achieve true success!

Bryan

PS. Do you want to be complete? Face those trials and learn your lessons today!