Misery is not a state in the Midwest between Kansas and Illinois, but instead, is a state of extreme unhappiness, despondency or wretchedness. Sadly, if we look around, it is easy to find a large number of miserable people. Many of those feeling miserable are in better situations than happier people surrounding them. Consequently, misery also can depend upon the strength and fortitude of the inner man. We know that “misery loves company” and in our difficult economic times, that company has grown immensely.
“It is by attempting to reach the top in a single leap that so much misery is caused in the world.” --- William Cobbett, 18th-century English journalist
Misery occurs when expectation greatly exceeds the present condition, and additionally, when changes to that condition do not occur quickly enough to satisfy desires. Though we have been told that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, many people become disgruntled when the medicine still retains a slightly bitter taste. Those without God are destined for bitterness and misery, as life without hope is wretchedness.
10 As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
11There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”
13“Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
14“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17And the way of peace they have not known.”
18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Romans 3:10-18
With the hope of Jesus Christ, Christians have no reason to walk in misery, though when we lose sight of God’s hand in our lives, we blindly can walk that route. Yet God is gracious, continuing to uplift us even when we fail to trust Him. Love is the answer. Without love, we cannot forgive others. Love cannot exist without forgiveness, and forgiveness cannot exist without love! Many of those walking in misery are carrying the burdens of unforgiveness. As Christians, we are called to forgive others just as Christ forgave us. All of us have been hurt by others. That pain seems to linger longer when caused by fellow believers, yet God’s mandate for us to release that burden applies just as strongly, if not more so, in those situations. Yet somehow, most of us feel the need to punish those whom have caused our pain, rather than trusting that God can handle it all much better. Instead of responding in judgment, God desires for us to respond in love. Love caused Paul to spend two years in Ephesus, sewing tents every morning, preaching and writing in the afternoon, and sewing tents every evening (1 Thessalonians 2:9). Paul financially supported his own ministry, and that ministry involved spreading the gospel to Jews and Greeks. Without complaint, Paul accepted his difficulties and trusted the Lord. His love for others was apparent in all he did.
“Whoever is spared personal pain must feel himself called to help in diminishing the pain of others. We must all carry our share of the misery which lies upon the world.” – Albert Schweitzer
We may have to carry the misery, but we don’t have to let it envelop us. God’s strength carries us and each of our burdens. How heavy can those burdens be, if He is shouldering all of them? While trust might be a very large step, when we reflect upon God’s strength in our lives, all we can see is that He never lets us down. When the Lord continues to rescue us in each trial, it builds our faith to trust Him in the darkest times as well. Don’t be a miserable Christian! Let His joy radiate from your life and from your face! While misery might like company, leave the pity party and surround yourself with the joy of the Lord!
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19
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