“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” (Ps 126:5)
Life is like a battlefield. We struggle with various pressures, burdens, and the bondage of sin. Many people find themselves defeated, living in despair and unhappiness. The Bible reminds us that while life is indeed a battle, we can be victorious and live with hope and joy. The letters to the seven churches in Asia in the Book of Revelation repeatedly mention the word “overcome”, showing that a victorious life is possible.
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We are living in a fast-paced world where things move very fast and instant. Information can be obtained with just a click of our fingertips. Technological advancement has made it possible to purchase food and products without the need to step out from our house. Slowly but surely, this will shape future generations who demand instant rewards and cannot stand delayed gratification.
What is delayed gratification? It is resistance to the temptation of an immediate pleasure in the hope of obtaining a valuable and long-lasting reward in the long term. It is akin to the saying that “good things come to those who wait.” However, teaching our kids to practice delayed gratification is pretty tough in today’s world of instant gratification.
Let us look at what the Bible says about the spiritual aspect of delayed gratification and later, we will discuss some ideas on how to help our kids develop this virtue.
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“Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.” (Jn 17:11)
The Lord Jesus’ prayer of separation from the disciples in John 17 (v. 11, 21, 22) is a special prayer for the disciples’ unity. It can be seen that what the Lord Jesus cared about most was that the disciples could not be united after He left. Apostle Paul warns believers to be careful, if they bite each other, he is afraid that they will destroy each other (Gal 5:15).
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Prov 3:5-6)
We are to trust God with all our hearts and not depend on what we know. We may not always know what lies ahead. At all times, we should include God in everything we do. This way, we give Him a chance to keep us on the right track. Nothing is so serious that God can’t solve it, and nothing is too small that God can’t care about it. It is like the relationship between the Lord Jesus Christ and the universe. He is so big that He fills the entire universe, and He is so small that He lives in our hearts. If we have faith in God, our anxiety and unease can be minimized when things are tough.
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: (Rev 2:8)
Lord Jesus Christ said that He was dead and came to life. This refers to His death by crucifixion and His resurrection. Christianity is different from all other religions in the world for we serve a risen Lord.