I was recently asked this question: """ I can not find a job or finish school. I am getting deeper in dept and it is causing financial stress on my wife and me. even my marriage is falling apart because of this. what do I do?"""
Here is what I said in reply:
You can say "amen."
Amen \A`men"\, v. To say Amen to; to sanction fully. ...
a statement to express assent or approval.When you wake up tomorrow and realize that you have no money, try this: "Well ... amen! , Amen. Well, just amen."
When you wake up tomorrow and recollect that people have been slandering you let your heart say: "Amen, Well, amen."
When someone takes too long at the ATM or cuts in front of you in traffic, try saying to God: "Amen. Well ... amen, just amen."
When your image has been torn down by embarrassing mishaps, or hatred, why not release it and simply say: "Amen, Lord, amen."
Problems arise as pressure to push us into God's presence. Do not try to shrink the problems by force. Instead yield to them, and give way. Let them cause you to rely upon Him. Do not struggle for control that you will never have. Don't fret. Say "amen."
You can always tell carnality by the struggle to press back against problems, but maturity in Christians is revealed the same as maturity in plumbs ... the ripe ones will yield to pressure.
The error that we do not have a good Shepherd to take care of us is a teaching that ultimately sends you in a downward spiral, because you have demand with no dynamic supply, and impossible burden with no rest.
Buddhists have the stupa, which is a giant and beautifully built dome. The stupa is not maintained, so that it will decay. They teach that existence is pain, and like the dome suffers pain and ruin through whatever comes against it. Ultimately, the goal is to become nothing, which is nirvana. Fatalism is just the Christian equivalent of the stupa-understanding, of misery concluding in the rescue of death.
Authentic Christian teaching never leads you to fatalism. There is no empty dome of existence; rather we spiritually see existence like an egg. Whatever trouble comes against us, can break us and spill forth life from within.
In me is an overcoming life that conquers anything that comes against it. It is like a diamond that is hidden in a cake. A knife will quickly cut through the cake, but if it ever makes contact with the gem then the knife will not cut the diamond, but rather be destroyed by the greater substance. Everything gives way to the Eternal Life that is in us.
So, if I have a problem outside of me, and a Solution that is inside of me ... WHAT IS IN THE WAY?
:-)We have problems/tribulation in real life, but we don't let them point us towards Buddhist-ish fatalism. If it feels like life is tearing chunks of flesh off of you, that is exactly what is happening, and the sooner that you are out of the way, the sooner that you will have victory. We emphasize that inside every Christian is the Way, and the Way holds the entire answers for real (un-imagined) calamity. The ripe Christian yields to pressure instead of resisting it or pushing back, because the ripe Christian knows that they have a life in them that can easily handle everything.
You don't have to be a "tough-cookie," (hard on the outside) and try to hold it together while praying for a quick end to the misery. Let the pressure push you to find the sufficiency of the Way.
... you might find yourself with a new word on your lips ... and a peace that passes understanding in the face of calamity ... "AMEN, Lord"
Here is a prayer to get you on your way:
I am in alot of danger.
I can't cope with the challenges today. I can't live a life of peace. I can't find fulfillment.
Today is too big of a day for a man. Today is too big of a day for me.
With hand placed over heart, Lord Jesus you are welcome here, come be my strength. Lord, be my peace. I am out of love. Lord, you be my love today.
I don't want to go a single moment without You.
(I am getting in the habit of saying this, at first sign of pressure, because this similar sentiment has been the beginning of some of the best days of my life.)
I ask you to love those who have hurt you; and to love them is to forgive them as I have forgiven them and you. ~ Jesus [Letters from God and His Christ - Volume 6 - Understand Love, Know Forgiveness, Partake of the Whole Fruit of the Spirit and Make It Part of You]