Beyond Rules

Early on in life, I learned about God. These growing-up years were filled with songs about God I still remember. At five, I sang with my grandfather in New Brunswick. At eight, I joined a choir for Easter in a small church in Scotland. As a pre-teen, I taught young children to sing "Jesus loves me, this I know."

I knew God was precious and wonderful. But I feared I could never measure up to His expectations. At 13, I refused to join the church, because I felt I could never promise to be as good as He wanted me to be. I was sure I’d fail. I continued to go to church, soaking up the beauty of the singing and the teaching. But I never dreamed of knowing God personally.

At 25, I found myself in a difficult marriage with two young daughters. When my son died at birth, I started looking for help to cope better with my life, but I didn’t think the church had answers for me.

So I went elsewhere. I went to hear a motivational speaker. It was interesting, but that was all. I joined a support group for people with bad nerves. I thought maybe this was my problem. But even though I learned a few things from meeting with this group, I soon discovered that I didn’t have bad nerves.

Through it all, I experienced pain and frustration. My heart was full of resentment. My life, I thought, was not supposed to be like this. If I tried harder and found the right thing to do, I could work things out.

Meanwhile, my mother and my sister told me about giving their lives to Jesus. I was glad for them, but I didn’t see how their experiences could apply to me. The God I believed in was not a sustainer. And I already knew I could never meet His standards. I was afraid that if I gave my life to such a perfect God, I would feel even more pressure to perform. Failure would only bring more shame.

One night, I went to hear a visiting speaker at a church in a neighbouring city. That’s where I understood that Jesus wanted to have a personal relationship with me. I was amazed. I had always believed Jesus’ story was ancient history. My job today was to obey the rules He had made. I never knew He loved me personally. What was even more amazing is that He could give me the power to live for Him.

When the speaker asked if anyone would like to give God a try, I knew I had to. My life was so hard; I felt desperate. So I told God He could have me. I asked Him to forgive me for the wrong things I had done and to make me the person He wanted me to be.
For me, this was not a flippant, emotional event. I took that decision very seriously. I was going to live up to my commitment! I wondered with mild expectancy what God would do to make my life better.

I started reading the Bible. As I read the stories I had heard so often in childhood, I realized they were different from what I remembered. I saw them with new eyes. I also attended a Bible study, where many of my questions were answered. The study’s leader helped me work through a lot of my misunderstandings about God.

I began to trust God’s ability to work in my life. I started working in a bank. I also had another son. Then, after six years, I left my marriage for the children’s sake. God helped me through the break-up and the painful custody battle that ensued.

Today, I celebrate 25 years of God’s faithfulness. My three children are doing well. I am happily remarried. The lessons I’ve learned through these turbulent years with God on my side have changed me. I still struggle with problems, but I am strong in His power. My life is filled with friends who help me grow. Now, instead of struggling to live up to His standards, I trust Him to transform me to become more like Him.

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

Living with hope

If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.

Is this the life for you?

If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.

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