Hate Your Life? Surely Not!

by:  Cris Corzine-McCloskey

My husband likes to explore YouTube for new music. This weekend, he stumbled across a song by Theory of a Deadman entitled I Hate My Life. The singer was crooning about the things that made life unbearable: being broke, slow drivers, a nagging spouse, lousy job, rude boss, etc. I thought I was listening to the Haters National Anthem. Yet, as atrocious as the song was, I sensed it tapped into the discontent I see in so many people.

I talk to unhappy people for a living. Most are miserable about things they could either change or accept. Either option could make a radical difference in their joy level. Yet they refuse to do either and hence remain stuck. Stuck in a dead-end job that pays too much to leave or an unhappy marital situation they are unwilling to fix. Why do we do this to ourselves?

I think we do that because we despise both changes or admitting defeat. The thought of changing even bad normal is enough to send chills down the spine. Conversely, we don’t want to accept a sub-par situation because it feels like giving up. We humans aren’t quitters, but we aren’t good at change. That’s a combination that leaves many of us trapped in this middle area of Yuck singing about how we hate our lives. What we rarely consider is that we believers have a third option. We can hand our troubling situations over to God and let Him do the fixing.

This weekend I was forced to stay home on another “exposure quarantine,” so I had to watch church on TV. I found myself drawn to Joel Osteen, who always has a positive word to speak. There is something about that man’s smile that can brighten even the darkest day. Yesterday was no exception because he taught how to hold on to the “surely’s” of God.

Joel said looking for Biblical surely’s is a great way to find a promise from God. Then mix that promise with faith and hold on! It’s a proven combination that will build your hope and become a landing strip for God to deliver on that promise. Here are a few of my favorite things God says He will “surely” fulfill:
“I will not leave you until I have surely done that which I have spoken to you.” “I have surely seen the affliction of my people.” “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.” “Surely He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.” And my favorite, “For if by the sin of Adam death reigned, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

Did you catch what that last one was saying? Reigning in life doesn’t sound like hating your life or settling for unfortunate, sub-par conditions. But there is a catch. You have to receive God’s grace (there’s no earning in God’s economy) and accept that your right standing with God comes from the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Then, believe what God says and exchange that belief for all the humdrum and hate. That’s called receiving the promise with faith.

Consequently, after doing all that receiving and reigning, the next song you will be singing will not be the Haters National Anthem; it will surely be Amazing Grace!