Hosanna Restoration Church

I could be wrong, but it seems to me that far too many Christians think that there would be something wrong with expecting life to involve pleasure? Why would we somehow think that it would be wrong to enjoy life? Why shouldn’t we expect that our lives should be a grade above rather than a grade below? We may as well admit it; at one time or another we have all felt that we should suffer just a little in order to be good Christians. In fact, I think that is why many are not interested in being Christians.

If what the Bible says is true, and it is, that there is pleasure in sin for a season; how much more should there be pleasure with Lord at all times. Since it is also true that God takes no pleasure in seeing His people suffer, it only stands to reason that He desires that we experience the pure pleasure of the life He designed us for.

Believe me. I know how foreign this kind of thinking sounds. When I was first saved, I was convinced that success in the world must now be history. In fact I was concerned that if I did prosper at all I would fall right back into making money my god. Even though I was experiencing more life and joy with God, I was not certain that it would be right to expect it to continue.

Fortunately, I got caught up in worshipping and loving God and consequently never gave a lot of thought as to whether it was right to enjoy His presence and expect life to be good. The more I focused on Him the less guilty I felt about how very good He has been and continues to be to me.

Of course not everything has been a rose garden; but the worst field of thistles is okay when we are with Him. I guess that makes sense since Jesus was comforted and victorious even as he wore a crown of thorns. The key of course is learning to expect Him to comfort us rather than suspecting that He made the problem. I must tell you that I always ask God to teach me the easy way and I never consider Him as being the source of any problems.

Everything concerning God is pure pleasure to me, so I expect Him to always show me the path of life. What could possibly be wrong with expecting life to be enjoyable? Would it be so terrible if every time something bad happened God turned it into something good? I am certain that His left hand has something for me too, but based on Psalm 16:11, I am going to chart my course for His right hand where there are pleasures forevermore. I really believe that God takes pleasure in people who believe He is pleasant and the provider of great pleasure. Selah. Think on that!