Question:I have been reading and studying the Bible for over a decade. When I first had a desire to know God, I had enthusiasm. I was never afraid to share the gospel with anyone. However, in the last few months I have noticed that desire isn’t there anymore. My oldest sister thinks all Christians are hypocrites. My younger brother is ashamed of me. My younger sister doesn’t want to be around me when I talk about Christianity. Is it normal for Christians to lose their enthusiasm for Christ after a while? If so, is frustration a part of this "phase" -- which I like to call it?

Answer:

What you describe happens to many Christians, who have a "first love" kind of experience – a honeymoon period – and then the "rubber hits the road" – and we find out what Christianity is all about. It is all about taking up our cross and following our Lord. It is not a life of ease and prosperity, but one of selfless giving and servanthood. Although there are some who try to tell us that Christianity is all about promises from God that we will never have bad health, and that we will achieve financial prosperity, the New Testament tells us that most Christians do not experience a "perfect" life here on earth – for that is not where our treasure is (Matthew 6). For Christians, this life is not all there is!

God does not call us to achieve everything on our own – to solve all of the problems – to generate the answers. Those are the kinds of things he does. We are called to be reflections of his light (as opposed to generating it). We are called to be salt and light. We do not have the power and strength of and by ourselves to do what we need to do – only Jesus can do that in and through us. And that is the message of the gospel, isn’t it? So that no man can boast (Ephesians 2:9). We have this treasure in earthen vessels, "jars of clay."

Don’t become discouraged. Don’t assume that you have to change the world all by yourself. God knows that you can’t. What God wants from you is to yield your life to him, to be a tool he can use, in whatever way he chooses according to his sovereign plan, to help share the good news of his gospel. Be content with that. As Paul said – he had to learn to be content (philippians 4:12). We are world-changers – but only because Christ in us does all of the necessary work!

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht