Zero Patience
Please know that all email’s are edited and the names have been left out to assure everyone’s privacy – Internet Pastor
Dear Internet Pastor,
Greetings. I began seeking Christ in late 2004. Since then, God has shown Himself to me in ways that are just beyond coincidental. My concern is strictly based around my own personal struggles. I know, as a Christian we will face struggles, and the overall change we should see in our lives is based more upon our reaction to our circumstances and not always a change of circumstances themselves.
The problem is, I’m just not seeing that change. I see it for a time, but then I slip back into my bitter, cynical, and selfish self. Sometimes I’ll commit so hard not to gossip at work, cuss, lust, or get frustrated with my stepchildren; but I end up doing it anyway. I’m to the point with my stepson where if he makes a single “squeak” I feel like grounding him for a week. I have zero patience with my step kids.
I’ve seen periods of victory. For example, there was a 6 month season where I stopped cussing. I’ve cussed every since I was a kid. It was like God just took it away. Now, I’m lucky if I go two sentences without blurting out profanity. I’m a HORRIBLE witness at work. Everyone knows that I’m a professing Christian but I don’t act like it.
My concern is that maybe I’m not saved. If I am saved, and it’s possible to back slide this much; I’m having a very hard time staying on the right track. I think a lot of it has to do to my reaction to circumstances at home. My wife’s not too careful with money and I feel like when I do get close to God my family wants to keep me too busy to grow in the Lord. At the same time, that’s no excuse because part of growing in the Lord is being kind and leading my family in a Godly direction.
I’m sure that information is scattered, but I’d appreciate any advice you can give.
Signed,
Zero Patience
Dear Zero Patience,
It sounds to me like you are really stressed. Stress causes us to get frustrated with our families and with ourselves. Living in a fallen world can be stressful for all of us, even when we are in relationship with Christ (if you have asked Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of your life you are saved). Salvation provides our eternal relationship with God, but it doesn’t make everything in life work.
I can give you a few things to do to help with the stress. First, not only does Jesus need to be the Lord and Savior of our lives, he needs to be the MANAGER of our lives. Decide each day to let Him be on control of your life. He will do a much better job of it then you will. Second, Accept God’s Word as the authority for your life. Pass all your decisions by the filter of God’s Word. With the Bible as your standard, decisions are less stressful. Third, lean on the power of the Holy Spirit to help you change the things in your life that need to be changed. Change is a day to day process of cooperating with the Holy Spirit in our lives. Fourth, Keep your eyes on Jesus!
Finally, the best advice I can give at the moment is this:
Life isn’t fair, do the next right thing.
Live every day doing your best to do the next right thing, regardless of your circumstances, and your stress should lessen.
Hope that helps!
(Internet Pastor Online Ministry is provided for education and entertainment purposes. This site is in no way a substitute for a relationship with a local church/pastor or with a licensed counselor when necessary.)
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Category: Online Ministry
