How discipleship is better than secular coping strategies …

Life comes with troubles, a reality Jesus himself pointed out (John 16:33).

Unfortunately, many people choose to grab hold of ineffective coping mechanisms in a vain effort to help them cope with the troubles of life they experience, rather than work through issues or get help to overcome them.

In a previous post (which you can find here), I identify 10 popular “secular” coping strategies; these are common ways people try to cope with their troubles, even though those strategies often (or usually) fail.

It isn’t God’s desire we fail in living well, regardless of our circumstances.

Jesus doesn’t want us to just “cope” with life, He has stepped in to overcome all the world can throw at us (again, John 16:33) and came to provide us with a life in which we can thrive:

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life,” John 10:10.

Because of Christ, and as students or learners of Christ (otherwise known as being disciples of Jesus), we are taught better “strategies” for facing and addressing the troubles we will inevitably face. Let’s be reminded again:

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world,” John 16:33.

When we are born again, adopted into God’s family, and become disciples (students, learners) of Jesus, the discipleship process helps us be able to make our way through the troubles experienced in this world and still able to experience that “rich and satisfying life” only Jesus can provide.

Let’s look at several ways that discipleship as followers of Jesus is actually better than ineffective secular coping mechanisms:

The essential issues of purpose and meaning are settled in Christ. When we begin to despair for life and question why we’re here and what we have to live for, the world doesn’t have an answer that meets the need of the soul. Jesus does. When we discover that our sole purpose for existing is for Christ himself, we reset and settle the soul-deep issue of why we’re here and the “meaning” of life:

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see — such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him,” Colossians 1:15-17.

God launches a life-long transformation process in us that starts by changing the way we think. Our own thought lives will cause us more trouble than anything (or anyone) we will face in life. Fortunately, God’s plan is to transform us into the likeness of Jesus, and He begins with changing how we think:

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect,” Romans 12:2.

“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy,” Ephesians 4:21-24.

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him,” Philippians 2:13.

As a disciple of Jesus, you’re equipped with a power greater than your own by the Holy Spirit coming to live in you. A root problem of secular coping mechanisms is they leave you wrestling with life’s troubles with your own finite (and rather minuscule) power, something that failed you in the first place. But the disciple of Jesus is equipped with much more:

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline,” 2 Timothy 1:7.

“We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins,” Colossians 1:11-14.

“For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power,” 1 Corinthians 4:20.

“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.),” Romans 8:5-9.

Getting to know the character of God, and putting our trust and faith in Him, gives us hope and peace. If you look at the world, it’s easy to see a lot of chaos, pain, evil, and a picture that saps the hope and joy out of you. But not when you look at who God is. By learning about the character of God, and gaining an understanding of what it means that God is sovereign, and omnipotent, and omniscient, and immutable, and holy, and righteous, and just, and IS love (among other things) … that impacts us to the depths of our soul and gives us real hope and a peace that passes the understanding of this world.

“This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary,” Hebrews 6:19.

The Bible doesn’t just “inform” us about life, it “forms” our lives as disciples.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work,” 2 Timothy 3:16.

“Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled,” Romans 15:4.

No matter what’s happening in your life, God is an immediate conversation away. In Christ, you’re never alone. Whatever trouble may come your way, through prayer you can instantly talk with God about what you’re thinking, feeling, and are challenged with, and call on Him for help.

“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up,” Luke 18:1.

“The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles,” Psalm 34:17.

“I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for,” 1 John 5:13-15.

Although the storms of life may rage, it’s possible to have peace that exceeds anything the world can offer.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world,” John 16:33.

“I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid,” John 14:27.

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3.

God plants you in a new “support system” by giving you a spiritual family, which is the church.

“Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it,” Matthew 16:18.

“So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord,” Ephesians 2:19-21.

“He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love,” Ephesians 4:16.

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ,” Galatians 6:2.

Being a disciple of Jesus teaches and enables us to practice forgiveness, an essential skill needed for navigating life’s troubles.

“Then Peter came to him and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’ ‘No, not seven times,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven!'” Matthew 18:21-22.

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you,” Ephesians 4:31-32.

Instead of getting (or staying) caught up in a life of striving (which foments stress and anxiety), practicing the habit of sabbath teaches us to live a fruitful life from a place of rest, and that Christ himself is our source of rest in a very weary world.

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light,'” Matthew 11:28-30.

“So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall,” Hebrews 4:9-11.

The practice of Communion is a persistent reminder that we have been redeemed from the worst (sin and death) and reconciled to God.

“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed,” Isaiah 53:5.

“When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body,” 1 Corinthians 10:16-7.

We find a unique fulfillment and joy in kingdom-living practices of consistently worshiping and praising God.

“Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name,” Hebrews 13:15.

“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts,” Colossians 3:16.

The impact of receiving God’s love, loving God, and loving others through Him transforms and fulfills life like nothing else can.

“Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses,” Proverbs 10:12.

“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love,” Ephesians 4:2.

“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins,” 1 Peter 4:8.

“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony,” Colossians 3:14.

A secular coping mechanism can sometimes be helpful “in the moment” and for a moment, but it doesn’t provide for healing and wholeness, peace, rest, and joy like being a disciple of Jesus can.

Scotty