Sometimes in this life it can feel as if you have no future. Someone gets sick, someone dies, your industry changes, the economy crashes, and your plans evaporate. You don’t die, and you don’t disappear, and you still have to play out the rest of the game, but the joy of life is gone. What can you do to prevent becoming bitter when it feels as if you have no future?
First, be mindful of the times. We live in a secular time. Many don’t believe in God. Even some who claim to be spiritual are functional atheists, behaving as if there were no God. We rely on ourselves, and when something goes wrong, we are left adrift. Don’t allow our contemporary culture to weaken your faith. Be mindful of the times.
Second, embrace the burden. When something goes wrong, we look for help. We categorize people. Some we expect to be of help, some are not a likely resource, and some appear to be burdens, more liable to add to our problems. Don’t be too quick to judge people. Consider whether the perceived burden might be the answer to your problem.
Third, believe in the God of the Bible. Ultimately, the story that counts is the future of God’s story, the redemption of the Creation. However, somewhere in that big story, along the way, God may bring about redemption for you and restore to you the future you thought you had lost. Our future rests upon the faithfulness of God.
In our sermon this Sunday we will talk about how to avoid growing bitter when you feel you have no future.