Surprised by Tears - Thoughts about God

“Believe that the normal Christian life is an abundant (meaningful) and fruitful life” John 10:10

My husband looked surprised when he saw tears streaming down my face. We had just watched a movie with a sad ending and I couldn’t stop crying which is out of character for me. But I wasn’t crying for the couple in the film. I was crying for the many deep hurts I have seen in people whom I love very much. And there was nothing I could do to heal those hurts.

The movie brought back memories of when I was filled with deep hurts – some were real; some weren’t. Even though I had been a Christian for years, I did not know how to handle disappointments.

My husband and I were active in church…leaders of the youth group, children’s groups, singing in the choir, etc. We had four healthy children, a new home and were financially stable. But I was still dissatisfied, because I knew inwardly I was not experiencing the abundant life Jesus talked about in John 10:10. I knew there was a dimension to the Christian life I wasn’t experiencing…a dimension I saw in some of my friends and relatives.

Some of these friends encouraged us to attend a conference sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ to learn how to live the abundant Christian life. At this conference we were reminded of certain scriptural truths we needed to apply moment by moment. A few of the most helpful are:

Believe that the normal Christian life is an abundant (meaningful) and fruitful life. (John 10:10)0

A Christian who is not willing to have Christ as Lord of their life will not experience the meaningful and fruitful life. (Matthew 7:21)

God cannot and will not fill a person who has unconfessed sin in their life. (Revelation 4:8b, 1 John 1:9)

Jesus promised the meaningful and fruitful life as the result of being filled (directed and empowered) by the Holy Spirit. (John 7:37-39, Ephesians 5:18)

We are filled (directed and empowered) by the Holy Spirit by faith. (1 John 5:14,15)

Walk in the Holy Spirit – allow Christ to live His life in and through you. (Philippians 2:13)

As I started applying these truths, my husband and I began to experience the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. It was then that God healed my hurts and He continues to do so.

Our love and commitment grew toward God, our children and others. Our home changed as we changed.

We began to recognize the hurts and needs in others and began sharing Christ’s love with them. What joy we experienced in leading others to Christ and teaching them about the abundant Christian life.

Although there will always be hurts and tears, the lordship of Christ and our trust in Him is the answer to the problems we face in our world today. If you have not made the wonderful discovery of the Spirit-filled life, I encourage you to learn how to live the abundant Christian life by visiting the Related Article below.

God can change our tears of sorrow into tears of joy!

Thank you, Father, for forgiving our sins. Thank you for changing our tears of sorrows into tears of joy. Amen.

by Katherine Kehler
used by permission

“Believe that the normal Christian life is an abundant (meaningful) and fruitful life” John 10:10

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