Christian Hedonism - Pt 3

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:10-12 ESV).

Today we’ll begin looking at some practical ways to move forward. So far it may seem like I’m advocating for a smoother road, or a life without the “rollercoaster” of emotions initiated by the wild swings of circumstance. The truth is that the Scripture clearly teaches the truth that the heroes of our faith have always experienced seasons when clarity and joy and spiritual sensitivity weaken. Sin is the preference of the heart getting the upper hand over our delight in God and his ways. Our reading is a psalm of David. He cries out to the Lord, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” The background of the great king’s cries to the Lord is significant. His sin with Bathsheba resulting in his sexual failure and the murder of one of his most loyal generals in an attempt to cover-up his sin cannot be understated. However, what is most important to note is the wild swing of emotion. The accusation of the prophet has provided David with one of the most painful circumstances imaginable. What he desires is not more knowledge; he desires the restoration of his joy that was rooted in his relationship with the Lord. Others provide a similar example. Paul would not have come to the end of Romans 7 with the words “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24) had he not felt the emotional pain of his failures. If these feelings were not important, Jesus would not have taught us to pray every day, “Forgive us our sins” (cf. Matthew 6:12). After all, sin is merely the preference of the heart getting the upper hand over our delight in God and his ways. We cannot be caught in a cycle of measuring the ups and downs of our affections for Christ as though there were a standard of perfection in the Bible. They are not. We all struggle with ups and downs, strong affection one day, weak affection the next day. So, the key is not in disconnecting the caboose in our train; but, it is found in the reliance we place in the engine. Circumstances wax and wane. Sometimes these low points are directly related to our sin, at other times, they simply are a part of our journey. The point is they come and go. God does not! It is His consistent presence that allows us to be happy. We may have abundant life in Him. Take pleasure in your relationship with Him. That brings glory to Him. And, that brings happiness to us.