Written By: Andrew Burcham
Life is good; thanks be to God.
After nearly ten years of marriage, nine years in the Navy, four and a half kids (number five is due in March), many moves and travels, we never would have dreamed this is where life would take us. It’s been an incredible journey, and God has blessed us more than we ever could have imagined.
I say all this, though, because our story isn’t perfect; it shows the grace and mercy of our Lord. There’s something to be learned in the good and the bad.
Sometimes, if not usually, when life seems to be falling into place for us, we get complacent. I got complacent. As the saying goes in the Navy, complacency kills. Whether I was tracking a foreign submarine, working combined operations, growing my faith in Jesus, or loving and dating my wife. As soon as I think I have it all figured out, and I stop continuously pursuing perfection, the enemy attacks. Complacency kills, figuratively and literally.
I had a great marriage, great kids, a great life, but I got busy, slowed my spiritual growth, invested more into work, and became complacent. That’s when the enemy struck, and mistakes were made. Work took a turn for the worse, my spiritual life devolved, and I began to put my desires first. Many mistakes later, my marriage was on the brink; I still don’t know how God kept us together. My wife deserved better. I continue to thank God for His grace, blessing me with my family. And His mercy that I didn’t lose my family. Long story short, we made it through.
I say all this to encourage those who feel like life isn’t going as planned. And I say all this to prepare those who feel like life going well. If life is in a rut, and you or your significant other have made a lot of poor decisions, God will always want what’s best for you. But you have to run to Him, nowhere else, and to no one else. Pray, read your Bible, go to church, ask for forgiveness, seek counseling, pay your debts, quit your job, cut out a lousy friend, whatever it takes to salvage your relationship with God and your spouse. WHATEVER!!
If life is going well for you, I’m glad that it is! Remain aware of the enemy’s tactics, understanding that he utilizes overt and covert methods. He will do ANYTHING to bring you down. He’ll turn growth into over-confidence. The enemy will bring in an old crush on Facebook, deteriorating work conditions, the death of someone close, an unhealthy hobby, anything to take your mind off the bigger picture, the pursuit of perfection. Prepare your mind, pray that God grows your understanding of His word, that your wisdom and discernment of the enemy grows…anything to avoid becoming complacent.
Written By: Andrew Burcham – Founder of Brothers in Arms a Non-Profit for homeless vets. You can learn more here: BIA
