“JUST AS I AM WITHOUT ONE PLEA” – FACING LIFE’S CHALLENGES

Human beings are known to crib and complain about a whole lot of things. According to one survey, on an average, a person complains about 15 to 30 times each day. Complaining or cribbing is also considered as a expression of venting one’s feelings of frustration and disappointments. Though letting ones pent up feelings and emotions is good and needed, if we are only complaining and cribbing, then it wouldn’t take long before all what we speak becomes a tirade against all what is happening bad in our lives. This is unhealthy and unfruitful to us.

William Berry, argues in his article, “The Psychology of Complaining” published in “Psychology Today” has some helpful insights in understanding cribbing and complaining.
– “Another reason people may complain is that the brain is negative-biased. The human brain, geared for survival, focuses on negatives (as they appear more threatening to survival) than on positives (which enhance life but are less vital for survival). As the brain perceives negatives at an approximated ratio of five to one, there is simply more to complain about than there is to be grateful for. Additionally, this may lead to less general happiness.” – William Berry

Now to the two questions, we as Christians and the disciples of the LORD Jesus should be asking ourselves as we face trials, testings and tribulations – “Am I cribbing and complaining a lot?” If we are cribbing and complaining a lot, then we ought to ask ourselves, “Why am I cribbing and complaining a lot?” Answers to these two questions reveal a lot about the quality of our spiritual life, and the strength of our faith. It reflects our grasp of a disciple’s life, and our Christian maturity. These issues are critical for our spiritual well-being and our healthy, wholesome and “happy” walk on the Narrow Path, that we are called to walk by our God and our Master, the LORD Jesus Christ.
– “Because Western cultures have reduced physical suffering, and increased life expectancy so dramatically, we can be lulled into thinking that suffering of any kind should be unusual. When suffering comes, we are surprised, and we often find ourselves in a spiritual crisis because of it. It doesn’t help that many Christians have been ensnared by the false teaching that if we follow God, things will go well for us in our lives.” – Pastor Tom Hilpert

Accepting and enduring suffering as part of our Christian walk, is what I could gather from the Word of God, and from the lives of many Christians who walked before us. We are called to FACE LIFE’S CHALLENGES with UNFAZED FAITH, and UNWAVERING TRUST IN THE GOODNESS of the LORD JESUS, to HELP US and GUIDE US THROUGH EVERY SITUATION in our LIVES. 
– “Suffering cannot derail God’s plan for your life. It can be very, very difficult, but it does not have to be evil. In fact, the best thing that ever happened for humankind came about through suffering. It came not in spite of Jesus’ suffering, but because of it. Ultimate suffering was the means of bringing about ultimate good. If this tremendous good (our salvation) came through suffering, is it possible that our own suffering might bring also bring about some good?” – Pastor Tom Hilpert

One such humble Christian is Charlotte Elliott, born on this day, the 17 March, in 1789. She is an English devotional writer. Sadly, at an young age of thirty three, Charlotte was struck with a strange sickness which had left her an invalid, the rest of her remaining 50 years of life. How would you and I respond to such a shocking sickness? Charlotte Elliott, on her part continued her walk as a Christian with UNFAZED FAITH, and UNWAVERING TRUST in the GOODNESS and the GRACE of the LORD JESUS, TO HELP HER and GUIDE HER, THROUGH EVERY SITUATION IN HER LIVES. In the face of such debilitating sickness, that left her a helpless invalid, she chose to devote her life to religious writings. She wrote 150 hymns, being in such a physical state. The most famous of her hymn, which we sing even today is, “Just As I Am, Without One Plea” – which reflects her steadfast and unquestioning faith and trust in the goodness and the grace of our LORD Jesus Christ.
– “Just as I am, though tossed about With many a conflict, many a doubt; Fightings within, and fears without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!”
– “Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind; Sight, riches, healing of the mind; Yes, all I need, in Thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!”
– “Just as I am, Thy love unknown Has broken every barrier down; Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!”
– “3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Where do we stand dear brothers and sisters? Do we have such a faith? We we demonstrate such trust in the LORD Jesus? Or, are we cribbing and complaining about this, that and everything in life? Having Jesus Christ our LORD in our lives, do we need anything more? I don’t think so. What about you?