Broken but Priceless Ministries
Follow Us:
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Broken but Priceless Ministries
    • Erin Elizabeth Austin
    • Josie Siler
    • Kathy Sebright
  • BLOG
    • Blog
    • Answers for Everyday Life
  • Magazine
    • The Magazine
    • Resources
  • Prayer
    • Request Prayer
    • Become a Prayer Partner
  • Events
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Erin!
    • Public Speaking

The Real Thing

7/30/2012

Comments

 
Like many people all around the world, I currently have Olympic fever. Whenever I can, my television and computer are attuned to the Olympics. I have many games I particularly enjoy, but my favorite by far is the synchronized diving. Growing up, I always imagined winning a gold medal for this Olympic game. Those who know me understand just how laughable this dream truly is. Although I can swim, I have never been a big fan of the diving board. I much prefer sedately walking down the steps into the swimming pool. Climbing ridiculous heights, only to jump head-first into deep water, is not my idea of a good time. Yet even my preference to remain in the pool and not above it couldn't stop me from pretending I was an Olympian with my friends whenever the Olympic season rolled around. Unfortunately, pretending is the only thing I did. My friends and I were no more Olympians than the majority of people in this country.
In Philippians 1:15-18, Paul talked about a group of people who were also pretenders, yet their pretending was far more serious than the pretending of a young girl. The people to whom Paul referred were pretending they were Christians. Paul said that even though they said and did the right things, their hearts were in the wrong place.

It's easy to fly past passages of Scripture like this because Paul was talking about his interactions with a specific group of people who were behaving inappropriately, but I believe there is a lesson to be learned. Anyone suffering with a chronic illness has a tendency to question God's love and faithfulness. The only problem with this is that when we question God's reason for allowing us to be sick, we often find ourselves facing a crisis of faith. For me, I came dangerously close to walking away from God after being diagnosed with a second illness, but since I live in a small Southern town and am the daughter of a pastor, I decided to keep up the appearance of being a "good Christian."

For over a year, I pretended everything about my relationship with God. I went to church, said the right things, and behaved in the proper way, but inside, I was miserable. My physical agony didn't even compare to my spiritual and emotional agony. Desperate for a little bit of peace and happiness, I finally turned to God for help. As I spent time praying and studying the Bible, I realized God doesn't want pretenders. He is only interested in the real thing - people who genuinely love God and want a relationship with Him.

So am I healed? Did my return to God take away my pain and suffering? Although I wish I could say yes, the answer is no. I still live with two chronic illnesses, and I can't answer the "why" question we have all wondered at some time or another, but this I know: I would much rather be sick and have a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ than to be healthy and have a pretend relationship with Him. It took two illnesses for me to finally understand this truth, but I can honestly say I am happier today than I was when I had no illness at all.

How about you? Are you a master pretender, or do you have a real relationship with Christ? The real thing won't necessarily change your situation, but I guarantee it will change you. So what have you got to lose?

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." ~ Romans 15:13 (NASB)

(c) July 30, 2012
Comments
    Email Subscription

    Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.


    Picture
    Erin Elizabeth Austin

    Author

    Erin Elizabeth Austin is a writer and speaker with a passion to help people find healing in the midst of their brokenness.

    If you want to contact Erin directly please click here.


    Picture
    Josie Siler

    Contributor

    Josie Siler, like millions of others, is living with chronic illness. She is eager to share the hope and joy that she has found in Christ, whether that is in a church, at a women’s retreat, over a cup of hot cocoa, or through a blog post.
    Click here to email Josie.


    Archives

    November 2018
    October 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011

    Categories

    All
    A New Perspective
    Angry At God
    Believing God
    Discovering Joy
    Embracing Who God Created You To Be
    Fighting Feelings Of Low Self Worth
    Fighting Feelings Of Low Self-Worth
    Learning To Thrive
    Names Of God
    Overcoming Bitterness
    Prayer
    Questioning God's Goodness
    Questioning God's Love
    Rising Above The Pain
    The Armor Of God
    The Names Of God
    When Hope Is Lost


    RSS Feed

Website by Business Notes LLC --- Photo Credits: Josie Siler