Broken world, broken lives

(I found this list in a "Gospel Transformation" lesson series from the World Harvest Mission. Goal: to acknowledge more fully the different areas of a fallen world that can pressure us, tempt us, or bring suffering into our lives. Indeed, indeed, yet some are harder to see than others.)

The suffering and pressures of life: a closer look

1. Relationships. Kids misbehaving, boss at work, family upbringing, husband or wife's neglect, anger, or criticism, in-laws, siblings, people in general (their actions, opinions), physical abuse, sexual abuse, bad role models.

2. Possessions. Car, house, computer, washing machine, lawnmower, television: anything that can break, mess up, or damage something! Lack of possessions, not enough money to make ends meet.

3. Biology/genetics. Sickness, food cravings, PMS, menopause, old age, deformity, injury, panic attacks, depression, anxiety, death, rain, snow, humidity.

4. Work/career. Lack of time, exams, lack of sleep, job concerns, cooking, housekeeping, routine, finances, Monday mornings!

5. Fallen world. Death in family, tears, sorrow, depression, pain, thorns and thistles, and meaninglessness.

6. Satan and the world. The world tempts us to conform, either by force or by seduction. Our culture can tempt us according to various things that are "important" for our culture, such as respect, independence, beauty or superiority.

7. Sinful nature. As Christians, we live with two realities, two natures--the old and the new. The old pressures us towards sin. The sinful nature fights against the Spirit.

8. The wilderness. We are a wilderness community who has not yet entered the Promised Land. Like the Israelites, we are faced with lack of water, same food, same schedule, dust, heat, same clothes, and uncertainty.

9. Good things. Blessings, success at job, unexpected gifts, good family life, promotion, increase in salary, better living conditions. It is harder to see these as temptations, but they can be powerful. Consider the prayer in Proverbs 30:8-9: "Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."