Many Christian people are not really happy deep down inside. Oh, they can put on a good front, and smile and make small talk, but when they are alone and all is quiet there is no peace inside. This kind of person finds it easy to become involved in bickering, quarrels and arguments, especially at home. Is this the way it is suppose to be?
Have you ever noticed when the electricity goes off we say the POWER is off? When that happens we have all kinds of unexpected problems. We can’t take a shower, do a load of wash, or run the dishwasher. We have no water period. Also, most likely, the heating system in our house won’t work without electricity. In the winter this can be a serious problem. All those things that we take for granted every day are suddenly out of bounds for us just because something unexpected happened at the power station and the power went off. We feel helpless!
The POWER can go off in our Christian lives also. When that happens we cannot function right. Too many people today have a powerless and miserable life. Yes, we continue to try to do the right things. Perhaps we get up on Sunday morning and have an argument with our spouse while getting ready for church, and yell at the kids. Then we all pile in the car and go off to church. When we arrive we put on a happy face, and look just fine on the outside. We can participate in the choir and greet each other with a handshake or hug. But, at the same time we might be miserable on the inside. We leave church and again find ourselves in the same old situation quarreling and arguing with others. What has happened? You have lost your power source!
The Holy Spirit is our power source. Do you know that we short-circut the Holy Spirit’s power in our life when we sin? This happens even when we do so called little sins. We sin and it breaks our connection with God. We no longer have fellowship with him. We immediately then revert back to living in our flesh like we did before we were Christians. It would be good if a bell would go off in our heads and alert us to the fact that we have sinned and lost our power source, but it doesn’t work that way. Instead we find ourselves thinking and doing things that are not pleasing to God. We try to accomplish things in our own strength which will not work. This behavior will go on until we realize we are not right with God.
God is holy and He cannot look upon our sin. He tells us in His Word:
“So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. (Isaiah 1:15) NASB
“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, (Isaiah 1:16) NASB
God doesn’t want us to be powerless Christians. He does not want us to quarrel and argue. God loves families and He wants us to have peaceful, loving homes to bring up our children. He wants us to be blessed with all spiritual blessings. He wants the very best for us. After all He bought us with His own blood when He died on the cross for us. He is invested in us.
When we get into arguments with others the issue is not what we are arguing about. It is about us. We are sinning, and we can’t be happy inside in this state. We are being selfish and prideful. We insist we have to get in that last word. We need to examine ourselves against the scriptures and see if we measure up. Where are we going wrong?
God tells us when we become a Christian a change takes place. We become a new creature in Christ.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17) NASB
He has told us to put these old things aside.
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. (Colossians 3:8)
Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, (Colossians 3:9)
If you have a short temper and fly off the handle easily something is wrong. We are not to fight and use abusive speech. We are not to get even. Some people I know say “I don’t get mad I just get even!” That is the way of the world. We are not to slander one another. And we are not to lie. We are to practice telling the truth. All of the above things are sin in God’s sight and when we do them we disconnect from our power source, the Holy Spirit.
Some people say they can’t help themselves in these things because they are just made that way. “Oh, I just have a short fuse. My dad was the same way. I come by it naturally.” Well, that may be so, but just because your dad was a sinner doesn’t mean you have to continue in the same path. These are simply excuses. God requires change! And, he has given us the tools to make those changes.
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, (Romans 6:12) NASB
We are to be in control and not let sin have it’s way. Before we were Christians this was very difficult because we didn’t have the power in ourselves to do this. But, now we have the Holy Spirit to help us, and we can have victory over sin.
If you are an unhappy Christian on the inside, take time to examine yourself and see if you have unconfessed sin in your life. Confess, repent, and get connected with your power source so you can please God and find true happiness.
hatchcreek.com Bible blog 
i’m sorry, but if man is naturally inclined to sin, then would it not justify the idea that being/living as a “good christian,” imply a life of trial and tribulation? And on another note; you honor your fallen soilders(us army, marine corps. etc.) and you can consider them heroes yes? and if, in example, a fellow soilder jumped into the path of an incoming bullet to save the life of his friend, he would definitely be considered a hero no? BUT WOULDNT THAT BE CONSIDERED SUICIDE? and dont people who commit suicide go straight to hell?
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In Saying that a man jumped in front of a bullet to save his friend is suicide would be saying that Jesus commited suicide to save us…
He knew he would die on the cross he knew he had the power to not suffer or die he chose to save us.. no a friend who jumps in the path of a bullet to save you.. does so out of love and fear of you being hurt, that isn’t suicide, suicide is taking your life as an easy way out of life..its a purely selfish act.
Making the decision to save the life of another isn’t selfish it is love…
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Stumble across your post…I am an unsatisfied Christian….I have no meaning in my life…I hate getting up, because I have no purpose….what do I do?
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me too
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That makes three of us. It sucks, its like hell… I want to do something meaningfull and satisfying so bad and know God is the only one that satisfies us but at the same time I don’t really feel thay I love God anyway. I can’t enjoy anything satisfying in life anymore because that would mean that I woukd be finding satisfaction in something other than God, including people. Why do we gain our life when we drop it and follow Christ when we just droped it and dont care about it anymore anyway? So yea life sucks…
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James, God has not told us that we cannot enjoy life if we are Christians. We should be the most joyful of all knowing what He has done for us and what our future in heaven will be. He has given us all the beauty of nature, friends, family, and lots of other things that we are to enjoy. When we enjoy things, as long as they are not sinful things, that is not finding satisfaction in something other than God. God has created all things, so we are enjoying his creation and that is good.
I have some really good articles on this blog about “spiritual depression.” I wish you would read them and listen to the sermons that go with them. You just might find the answer to your problem. You can start here:
https://hatchcreek.com/2016/01/14/depressed-christians/
You say you don’t think you really love God. You need to examine yourself James to see if you are truly a Christian. If you need help feel free to contact me.
There are many unhappy Christians in the world today and with the right understand of scripture this doesn’t have to be so.
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I am asking the same thing, but in reality I know why I am not happy as a Christian. That is because I have not let go of all that I know offends God, because, as I do these things, smoke, curse, lust…I know that I shouldn’t. That realization is proof of God’s Holy Spirit , not leaving me but remaining silent. When I pray to forgive me for such things, he does and His Spirit responds by listening again. I am not perfect as Christ is, so I must try to shed away that which is not pleasing to God, so his spirit remains receptive. That’s when I’m happy, when God is happy in me, with me, for me. As he is now that I am helping another find his way again. I found this post because before I responded, I asked same thing. NOW I FEEL GODS PRESSENCE AGAIN. So, thank you for helpingrestore my happiness. Psalms 51-12.
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That is great Dennis. God does restore us over and over again. I too find I am happy when I’m living in His will and in His ways. When we step out of his boundaries is when we lose that happiness. We will never reach perfection in this life. The struggle will always be there until we go to heaven, but the good news is that we do have the power to resist. James tells us to resist the devil and he will flea from us. The Holy Spirit in us is more powerful than our enemy. As we grow in Christ and overcome certain habits that hold us back we have more and more time when we are in God’s will. I believe our growing process is called progressive sanctification. My pastor is teaching us through Ephesians 4 right now and we are learning how to “put off” certain things and “put on” things that are pleasing to God. You might be interested. Here is the site: http://www.faithbiblechurchofwarren.wordpress.com or http://www.sermonaudio.com/fbcwarren. Blessings – Bonnie
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Thank you so much for your post. It really helped me. I’ve been struggling for some time now. I actually have come to realize I instantly get depressed the moment I stop connecting with the Lord. However, in spite of that I tend to find it relatively difficult to get out of my continuous selfish routine of putting God behind all the other things I do everyday. I’m continuing to work at it and your post has served as a reminder to keep putting my best foot forward, pray for help in this area until I please God. Thanks again!!
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Hi Tams, Thanks for your comments. It is so important to keep close to the Lord. We need to make sure we are in the Bible daily, and have a prayer time with the Lord. We need that spiritual food in our lives to help keep us on an even keel. We live in this world that is saturated with sin and it rubs off on us very easily if we let our guard down.
We need to walk with the Lord every single day, obeying Him, and depending on Him to fulfill all our needs.
When we become a Christian we make a committment to make Him Lord over our lives. It is not us anymore, but it is Him. He is in charge. We have to die to self and all of our selfish ambitions and desires. When we put God first it is surprising how He will teach us, lead us and bless us.
Blessings,
Bonnie
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i am very unhappy. i am baptis yet i dont like all the religious stuff. i was happy living my life then someone came up to me and made things so terrible. i feel religion so confusing. i just want to be happy again. i have prayed so much for relief and forgiveness of what ever i had done to deserve this. i know there has been somethings i have done wrong and i have tried to make them right. i am a life liver not a life worshiper. all the complex thaughts of religion is soo complicated i have put myself in depression. though at times i have random spits that i am actually happy. and my thaughts settled. if christianity is suposed to make every one happy why are buddhist happy =\. why cant i be happy. i believe in god just in my own way. if only you people thaught how i am thinking now youd go crazy too =(
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yo Richard
i don’t think christianity as such makes people happy. i think people’s religion is overrated. the very same misery of non Christians happens to us. some christians come out stronger, some don’t. If christians believe they posess all truth i think they’re deceiving themselves. Jesus is the only way to the father, but not the only way to heaven. if God s just i think God judges people according to what they know (Jesus said it’s better for those who never heard of Him than for those who consciously rejected Him on the day of judgement). The consciounce of a human being tells him which way to live+ right feelings about yourself are a direct result of acting right (according to your consciounce).
this is why mother theresa adviced muslims to be good muslims, christians to be good christians, and hindoes to be good hindoes. she knew that if they lived the best according to what they know they’ll end up with God. This explains your very true observation; buddhist will be happier than christians to the extent that they live more in step with their consciounce.
So maybe ask yourself: which lifestyle does my consciounce require of me? for me, living the best according to what I know implies i live as a Christian.. anyway.blessu
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Brecht, There is only one way to Heaven. Jesus Himself said in the Bible: Joh 14:6 LITV Jesus said to him, I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
The Father is in Heaven and that is where all true Christian will go when they die. The only way is through Jesus. He is the gate. All other religions fail in this area. Many believe you can earn you way to Heaven by being a good person, being kind to others, doing good deeds, or joining a certain church or religion. That is not what Jesus said. And He is the authority!
Bonnie
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Dear Bonlou,
I understand your reply, 1 year ago I would have given the same response to my own comment. But please consider this: many millions have not ever heard the gospel in a relevant way (fe. in my country). Do you think our loving God (Allah, Yahweh) would allow people to go to eternal pain if they didn’t even have a chance to get to know our God? I absolutely agree that Jesus is the only way to the father. But what christians have made of this verse is:’Jesus is the only way to heaven’. there’s a huge difference! We are privileged to know our father here on earth, other religions depend on own works like u rightly mentioned, so we definetely are called to evangelise and bring God’s kingdom on earth as in heaven through Jesus. But who in the world are we to judge about people’s eternal home?
I like to repeat that Jesus said that the day of judgment will be better for those who never heard of Him than for those who rejected Him. Many tribes through history have not heard of our God, yet many people lived the best according to what they knew (their consciounce), even though many had a false interpretation of our Father (fe. Jews, Muslims). Our God is righteous and considers these things I believe! I know my thinking might seem false but if you can disprove it I welcome you. All blessings brecht
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Richard
I know what you mean, I had been baptist myself before even I was deaf pastor in baptist too. Deaf leaders did judged me and expected me too much.
Now that I am divorced for 7 years ago. And I go Mennonite church.
What I learn…..don’t believe everything they say what you should be…..please believe what our God say about you (example You are redeemed, forgiven, etc All are IN CHRIST) also Jesus didn’t die for individual, He died for ALL, I mean He came to have a RELATIONSHIP! Be glad that He came to save as like misfits like a movie Christmas I forgot the title that Santa came to take misfits toys even little kids will be happy to have that misfit toys….
I like that verse about “perfected in love”
We should be thankful that God still work in us so one day we will NOT be ashamed to stand the Judgment seat of Christ.
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Yes, I am an unhappy Christian(56yrs old) nvr married, no children, no friends.. very sad, i cry everyday..everyday,everyday… Waited on God, very faithful..everyone else did what they wanted to do. I waited. and get nothing.. I am very attractive.(have guys looking at me that are 15 yrs younger(that are very interested in me). but age is the factor.. Now I have past that part in my life(as far as getting some1 younger) i have to settle for an older person(that i hate because i never expierenced the youth part of my life..I was trying to keep myself pure from the world..now I am too old to have a younger person…SAD SAD SAD.. dont want an old man. i can pass for 38yrs old ..but the guys that age like me alot but dont want an older woman.. the doctor say i have a body of a 9 yr old(body< not mind).i am very intelligent and mature.. sad situation i am miserable Christian..
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Dear Dee,
I read your story and found it very moving. I just want to say 2 things. 1) I ‘m having very hard times as well, and someone adviced me to read job or jeremiah. job i knew about, jeremiah just a bit. readin jeremiah’s miserable life helps me. maybe it doesn’t for you, maybe it does.
2) be honest about your feelings, it’s ok to feel sad, and perhaps ask yourself if God allows for divine disappointments in the life of His children. contrary to what many might think, I’m sure He does from experience. Eventually my doubtings turned into a deeper faith. i’m not saying this always happens, i don’t know how…
bye brecht
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You are right Brecht, God does allow for disappointments in life and usually these are to teach us something. We need to look for the lessons in our trials. He never promised us a rose garden, and a life of luxury. He said in this world we would have tribulation, but to take heart because He has overcome the world. We need to lean on Him and allow Him to guide us through things as He goes with us.
We can grow through our trials.
Bonnie
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This is very scary, im in a similar situation never married
childless overweight(virgin) poor($8000 annual income) prayers not getting answered, whether the prayer is about me or someone else. Although im only almost 26 and i have a few friends im am a very miserable christian. I feel your pain dee and i hope and pray that your life gets better. Hopefully Jesus comes soon and according to Daniel he is.
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You can always pray and ask God for a younger man
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