7 Myths Women Believe & the Biblical Truths Behind ThemՕրինակ

The Myth: “When Life Is Settled, Then I’ll Get Serious About My Faith”

Wait a minute. That can’t be right. I added up the numbers again in my head—and reached the same baffling conclusion. I’ve been a Christian for how many years now? Eleven? That is just so wrong! That realization (how did the years go by so fast?) got me thinking . . .

When I became a Christian in high school, I had a picture in my head of where I’d be someday. I thought by the time I reached thirty I would be so much further along than I am now. I remember thinking about the “older” leaders in my church. They seemed so . . . settled. They had their lives together, had great spiritual insights and stable jobs and spent their free time serving the church. But here I am, a college graduate and nowhere near the life I thought I’d have by now.

I was hoping that I would start a career after I graduated. But my job is just that—a job. Temping is hardly a career move, but it pays the bills. I still am not sure what I want to do with my life. I’m thinking of going back to school for a different degree. I have a boyfriend, but neither of us is ready for any sort of commitment. Spiritually, things aren’t working out so well either. Let’s just say I’ve stopped making promises to God or myself anymore. Instead of being the mature Christian that I envisioned all those years ago, I seem to be a spiritual screw-up. I just have so many issues I need to deal with before I start living for God. With my life in such chaos, I have nothing to offer anyone, least of all God.

If only I were married to a really solid Christian guy (not my boyfriend), and I had a respectable career and my personal issues were taken care of, then I could start to get serious about God and be a part of my church community.

I don’t see how any of that is going to happen. Someday I’ll get my life together, and then things will be different.

The Truth

We can’t get our lives together apart from God’s help. We can manage and cope, but we can’t truly change apart from God’s grace changing us from within. We have it all backwards when we strive to clean up our act single-handedly before we get serious about living for Christ. Before we loved him, he loved us. Before we chose him, he chose us. Before we even knew his name, he knew ours. What kind of a God loves, chooses and knows you as you are, not as you should be? The merciful God of the Bible, that’s who. As long as we’re alive, there will be emotional baggage and issues to deal with and problems to overcome. None of us is all we ought to be this side of heaven. None of us has it all together spiritually. King David didn’t, but look how far God brought him (see 1 Chronicles 17).

Moreover, some of us need to call this “waiting till we’ve got it all together” what it really is—an excuse. We think we’re doing God a favor by not bothering him, trying to take care of our problems on our own. In reality, we’re just buying time so we don’t have to face facts: something has to change.

Those who are willing to trade in their excuses for commitment will take action. This may mean . . .

• Finding a church home and plugging in.
• Signing up for a discipleship or Bible study class or joining a small group.
• Finding an area of service in the church.
• Meeting with a spiritual mentor.
• Seeking Christian counseling.

Whatever you need to do to jolt your slumbering spirituality, do it today. How much time do you think you’ll have to get it together on your own? Time is short. A sudden illness, accident or the heavenly blast of a trumpet signaling the Lord’s return to earth could blow your timeline. What are you waiting for?