Fed-up with Life?

WISHING IT WOULD END?

If you've ever felt like you wanted to just give it all up then you're not alone.  For someone with nothing to live for, it seems to make honest, logical sense to desire it all to end.  What's the point of prolonging the suffering?  Since much of life is a struggle with work, pain, relationships, health problems, and finances, an end to all that turmoil sounds appealing.  Death can sound like a relief.

But most who think they have no reason to live also have no real purpose for their lives.  They have no reason to wake up every morning.  Maybe they're lonely.  Maybe they're sick.  Or maybe they're just at wit's end.  They're just occupying a slot in time, going through all the motions, until they grow old and are buried in the grave.  But what happens to them in eternity?

God has a purpose for every one's life.  The reason why God allowed you to be born here below was so you could be born from up above (John 3:7).  When you finally see the futility of your life, of your existence, you are very close to salvation.  You have seen through the delusion of all the world's empty reasons for living.  You have seen through all of life's distractions.  A sign on some one's front door says, "Live, Laugh, Love".   Is that a strong enough peg to hang your hat on?  Or are you desirous of more substance?

The only satisfying reason for living is to know God.  And knowing God can only begin at the moment of salvation, at the instant in time when you acknowledge your sin (Rom 3:23) and trust that Jesus Christ died to give you everlasting life (1 Jn 5:13).  Being saved is an event in time.  Salvation is not a process.  Salvation is not becoming a better person.  Salvation is ending reliance upon your own strength and trusting Christ alone (Psalm 118:8).  Once a person is saved, a whole new life opens up . . . a life with true meaning and purpose.

FED-UP BELIEVERS

It's understandable why non-believers have nothing significant to live for but what about genuine Christians?   Do true believers in God ever get so down in the dumps that they wish it all would end?  After all, won't our existence be better when this miserable life is over?  As soon as this life ends, we have a great future awaiting us because we've repented and accepted God's gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-9).   The apostle Paul had no fear for the end of his earthly life.  He knew, with absolute certainty, what to expect when his earthly life ended;

2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 

GOD KNOWS YOUR LIMIT

Taking one's life, of course, is sin.  It's murder and breaks the sixth commandment (Exod 20:13).  If you're in the category of a believer exasperated with your situation in this life then it's comforting to know that God has instituted a limit to what He allows you to suffer;

1 Cor 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].

IN GOOD COMPANY

If you've ever teetered on the precipice of that which you can bear then you're in good company.  You're not alone.  It's wrong, of course, for believers to constantly wish life was over.  After all, we have God's hope in our lives.  We have His abiding presence, the Holy Spirit, walking with us at all times.  We are the only ones equipped with the ability to reflect God's light in a dark world.  But sometimes, just sometimes, we feel like we can't take it anymore.  Consider the shocking inner conversations of those famous in the faith who all, at times, wished they were dead;

Moses - And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness (Num 11:15)

Jonah - Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for [it is] better for me to die than to live (Jonah 4:3)

Elijah - But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I [am] not better than my fathers (1 Kings 19:4).

LIVING IS MORE NEEDFUL

God has a mission for every Christian who feels fed up with life.  God wants you to stay the course, fight the good fight, keep the faith.  There are people in far more desperate situations.  Just think of the many without Christ destined for hell (Matt 7:13).  All believers are ready for the next life.  We don't wonder what will happen because we know we're going to heaven (1 Jn 5:13).  The apostle Paul knew where he would be better off but he found it more necessary to spend his life in service;

Phil 1:24  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh [is] more needful for you.

Ever wonder why you were born when you were born, into your particular country, community, and family?  Sometimes people wish they were born in different eras.  After visiting Old Sturbridge Village here in New England and being temporarily transported back in time, it seems like the 1830s may have been a better time to live, a simpler day.  But remember that of the 6,000 years of human history, God appointed you to be born now, in this generation, in this particular situation, at this specific point in time.  It's not luck.  It's not coincidence.  God knew you before you were even formed in your mother's womb (Jer 1:5)  and your presence in this world at this time was no accident.

So what, exactly, is your mission?  Only God can answer that.  Ask Him.  Most likely, your mission will have something to do with your abilities and spiritual gifts.  But whatever God's specific mission is for your life, there is a general mission in common with all believers.  And you're feelings of desperation are understandable if you're neglecting any of these needful spiritual engagements.  He wants you to be in His word.  He wants you to be in prayer.  And he wants you to be in a church where you can be fed the truth of God's word, be encouraged in the faith, be in fellowship with like-minded believers, and serve God.

GETTING BACK ON TRACK

If you're a Christian and feeling life is worthless then just remember, the Son of God took the form of a man and died on cross for you.  Christ died so you may live.  He values your life highly.  Is it possible that your life seems useless because you're out of the will of God?  Have you been neglecting Him?  Have you made decisions with your life that bring Him dishonor?  If you're not in God's will then you know it.  Perhaps, in His mercy, He's telling you that the path you're taking is wrong with only continued pain and misery ahead.  It's time to turn around and go back in the right direction.  If you're desiring your life to be over, wishing it all away, then ask yourself; Is there a change you need to make in your life to get back on the right track?