Anxiety has been hitting me like waves. Moments of overwhelming emotion keep crashing on the shores of my thought life. Lately my faith has been tested and my worth as a man tried over and over again. I know Christ overcame the world and my irrelevant fear of the unknown shouldn't sway me, but it does.
Jesus can't be my friend. Simply put, if Jesus is merely a fair weather pal then this crushing and often-oppressive anxiety will destroy me. Jesus can't be my friend. He has to be my anchor in the storm. He has to be my sovereign Lord who is the author and FINISHER of my faith. Jesus can't be my friend. He has to be my savior if he is to be anything at all.
My relationship with Christ can't simply be one that relies on good times and warm feelings. It has to be a real relationship that requires active participation on my part even when I don't "feel like it." In order to walk out my faith in obedience I have to have the right view of Christ. He is to be revered as the Son of God, honored as Lord of Lords, respected as a loving father, and served, worshipped and adored for His loving sacrifice on my behalf. Jesus says in John 15:14 that we can be His friends but ONLY if we are following His commands.
Let's be honest, most of the time our feeble fist shaking at heaven has more to do with our own pride and less to do with anything that God has allowed to happen to us. Even the most grim of circumstances can be endured by simply remembering who Jesus actually is and allowing our faith to restore the hope that’s been lost. When we allow our situations to dictate our response we negate what Christ did on the cross. When our circumstances seem insurmountable do we lessen the power of the almighty? Has your pain, fear, sadness or etc become an idol that’s been placed above the Lordship of Christ?
If we view Jesus as merely a friend for when times are good, or a bail bondsmen when times are bad have we made him a liar? If you are struggling to have faith and your pride seems to block your access to the father in heaven I encourage you to remember exactly who Jesus is. Meditate on what he did for you and then ask yourself is Jesus my friend or my savior (hopefully both). If he is your savior then He's bigger than your current turmoil and he's here to offer peace that you don't deserve and cant understand. If Jesus is your friend are you holding up your end of the relationship?