The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: ONEROUS (03/02/17)
She didn’t know much about God, but she knew she needed help and nothing else was working. At first, when her life began to spin out of control, she could drink a little wine and not feel so afraid. Then the doctor gave her some pills to help her relax and sleep. That, with the wine got her through many lonely nights. But her situation didn’t get any better. In fact, it continued to worsen. When the bottom dropped out, and she didn’t know where else to turn, she found herself stumbling into a church.
.
Marilyn was pushing a vacuum cleaner up the center aisle when she looked up and saw Joyce collapse into the back pew in tears. Immediately she went to her side, “What’s wrong honey? Can I pray for you for something? You know God hears our prayers and will fix whatever is wrong if you just ask and believe.”

In her state of desperation all Joyce heard was that things could be fixed. That made her want to know more. Marilyn told her that God loves us and wants us to be happy. She explained that He gave us His Book of rules and if we live by them He fulfills all of His promises to us. “He is honor bound to give you all of the desires of your heart, that’s what Pastor Martin says.” Marilyn made it sound so simple. When she asked if Joyce wanted to pray and ask Jesus into her heart Joyce had reservations, but she thought Why not? Nothing else has worked!

With Marilyn as her coach, Joyce began pouring herself into prayer and reading her Bible. She had even fasted in her attempts to convince God to bring Dan back home to her. Marilyn kept telling her she needed more faith. She needed to pray harder and really believe God was going to answer her prayers. Soon, she not only felt that she had failed in her marriage, she also began to feel the weight of not being able to be a good enough Christian. She didn’t have enough faith, she couldn’t believe hard enough. She started avoiding Marilyn.

One night, feeling desperate, she called the local help line. It was late, she was so very lonely, she didn’t expect it would help but she couldn’t stand another minute alone with her thoughts. The person on the other end of the line, Mary, listened as she poured out her pain, desperation and failure. She ended by admitting, “And not even God can help me!”

“Why do you say that?” her listener asked.

“Because I’ve done everything the church said to do, I’ve tried everything God wants, and my husband still hasn’t come home.”

“Joyce, I think you’ve been given some wrong information.”

“How do you mean?” she asked.

“God loves you Joyce. He loves you so much that He wants nothing to come between you and Him. All He wants back from you is your love. It’s love for Him that makes us want to do anything He asks of us. God isn’t interested in religion Joyce, He wants relationship.”

Joyce sat staring at the wall in front of her. “But I’ve been trying so hard to make Him happy, that’s what everyone said works for them, are you saying they are all wrong?”

“Joyce, all I can tell you is what I’ve found to be true about God. You said you’ve been jumping through all these hoops so that God would perform a miracle for you. I’m telling you that God doesn’t want you to do what you do SO THAT… He wants a relationship where you do what you do for Him NO MATTER WHAT!”

They spent over an hour discussing rules vs relationship. Mary, it seemed to Joyce, had such a deep and personal relationship with God. She had never heard anyone express so much love and admiration for Him. Mary made her want to know God like she did.

“Mary, I’m glad you were here for me tonight. What you are saying makes so much more sense than everything else I’ve been told. Marilyn seems so happy, but I wonder how well all of her rules would work if her life fell apart like mine did. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”

Later that night, as Joyce prepared for bed, she realized that for the first time in a long long while she didn’t feel alone.

Matthew 11:28-30
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 401 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jenny Fulton 
03/11/17
Good job presenting the many false fixes people are given to deal with problems. I've thought before when people do actions "so that" that it is really almost like they are trying to manipulate and control God.
Phillip Cimei
03/12/17
Jesus had to rescue so many that were under the iron thumb of the Pharisees. I have had to deal with a lot of Christians that put heavy burdens on others and couldn't keep them. Good points. God bless
Larry Whittington
03/12/17
Yes, we need to be careful to study the things taught in any church. We need to study to know God's will and find peace being a child of God.
C D Swanson 
03/13/17
Good job!
Great reminders throughout your entry.

Blessings~