TEMPTATION
Why Do I Feel Like I’m Missing Out?
By Julie Ferwerda
CBN.com –
“God doesn’t want me to have any fun!”
That is exactly what the evil nerd, Satan, wants you to believe. In fact, that is one of the very first lies he ever told anyone, and he’s been telling it to people like you and me ever since. When the real First Lady, Eve, was standing in the garden right next to “The Big Tree”—you know, the one that God hung a “No Eating” sign on—Satan slithered his slimy little butt over to Eve in the form of a snake and said in Genesis 3:1 (my own paraphrase), “Man, that Big Guy who planted this huge beautiful playground has really duped you two. He made all these trees loaded with totally delicious fruit and you can’t have any. That Guy is MEAN! Not only that but He doesn’t want you to have any fun!”
Wait! Hold on a minute. Something is wrong with this story. God never said they couldn’t eat from any tree in the garden. There was only ONE TREE He said was off limits, but nerd-Satan twisted His words. Every other single piece of fruit in that garden was fully for their enjoyment. But Eve (and moments later Adam) listened to Satan talking trash about God. They suddenly believed that they were missing out on something and that God was holding out on them. As soon as they didn’t trust God anymore, they went ahead and did their own thing—they took the sign down off the tree and ate anyhow.
Before the snake could high-tail it out of the vicinity, the damage was done. God’s perfect plan for Adam and Eve was ruined and they had to leave the garden. There is something totally important for you to get here. God’s instruction wasn’t to keep Adam and Eve from something good, it was to save them from something evil. The same goes for you. Listening to Satan instead of God always ends in shame, guilt, and misery, and prevents you from truly enjoying things God has planned for your life.
So what is the truth about God? Is He mean? Does He want you to have a miserable boring life while all your friends seem to be speeding down the highway of fun and excitement?
John 10:10 says that Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He wants to steal God’s plans for you, kill your hopes and dreams, and destroy your future. Do you think he’s going to be upfront and obvious about this plan? Of course not! He knows you’re no dummy and that won’t work. Besides, he wants you to think “big brother is looking out for you.” He wants you to believe you are missing out on something that he can help you find. Remember this: Satan always promises more than he delivers. He promises good times with no consequences, but he delivers heartache and ruined lives…and he’s not going to be there to pick up the pieces once you realize what he did to you with his lies.
John 10:10 also says that Jesus came so that you can have a totally awesome life that ROCKS!! When Jesus says “no” to something, it is not to pull the plug on your fun. His “no” will save you from something that may start out looking great and fun, but will lead to emptiness and misery.
God has an amazing plan for you that is full of adventure and mind-blowing opportunities—IF you will believe and obey Him. And just like Eve, it’s time to stop looking at the few things God says “no” to, and focus on all the great things in your life that He gave you to do and enjoy. Say “yes” to God and “no” to Satan’s enticing lies, and they only thing you’ll be missing is a ruined life.
Julie is the author of The Perfect Fit: Waiting for God’s
Best after Failed Relationships and has written articles
for other publications such as Marriage Partnership,
Brio & Beyond, HomeLife, Discipleship
Journal, and Revolve III Biblezine Project for teen
girls (Thomas Nelson, July 2006). To order the book or to find
out more go to: www.JulieFerwerda.com.
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