Why are so many Christians unhappy? From Coping to Cure looks at the relief available through people helping people, through human efforts apart from God, which simply teach people to cope with their problems. Then the chapters explore the many dimensions of Christ the Cure. God’s healing love can transform the most miserable life into one of comfort, joy, and deep personal peace.
1. The Myth of Complexity
What do you say? God is, or God isn’t?
Whether they believe in God or not, everyone agrees that these words accurately describe the dark side of human behavior: hostile, hateful, resentful, rebellious, frustrated, confused, angry, cruel, selfish, dishonest, destructive. A small group (including the author) dares to call this sin and affirm there is no human remedy for sin. So what is the remedy?
2. How Can I Find Peace and Satisfaction in This World?
Why are Christians not in the least embarrassed over the absence of peace and rest in their lives?
It seems clear that the finest human effort in a magnificent world is not enough to quiet the human heart in times of trouble and stress. Based on all the options we have in going after peace, we should take careful note when Jesus gently tells us to turn to Him for peace. Learn to turn to Him, and not the world, if the peace you seek is that which is deeply satisfying and lasting.
3. Most of Us Have Had a Poor Start in Life!
Why do people blame their present behavior on their past experiences?
Secular psychologists believe that symptoms of bad behavior are socially or culturally caused, and look to a person’s past for an explanation of his or her behavior. But the Bible says contention and outbursts of anger are works of the flesh or sin. God offers us a way to receive forgiveness, cleansing, and renewal.
4. God’s Sharpest Tools, My Biggest Problems
Can you explain the change in some people’s lives when they become Christians?
I think I can change my behavior if I am just determined enough. This thinking leads to some great acting, but not to a changed and cured heart. I cannot change what I am deep down inside; only God can.
5. Sin Has Not Been Eliminated as of the Date of Publication of This Book
If you don’t know what sin is, you will inevitably suffer from its effects and probably wonder why!
We tend to deny or ignore the existence of sin. But its effects are seen throughout society. There is a supernatural cure for everyone. We don’t have to avoid the problem or run away to try to get relief. 1 John 1:9 shows us how.
6. Why Don’t You Just Concentrate on the Positive?
Is it difficult to deal with the negative in your life?
The physician and the dentist are members of professions we hold in high esteem. Yet, their focus is on finding trouble in your body. Actually, much of society focuses on correcting or preventing the negative: firemen, police, auto mechanics, lawyers, laboratories, and many others. In order to be healthy, spiritually speaking, we also need to look for trouble, a sinful condition in the body, so it can be fixed.
7. Look! Do You Want Me to Drive this Car or Do You Want to Do It?
Why do you do and say things that you later regret?
We as Christians tend to underestimate sin’s power over our behavior. I can only experience consistent peace, joy, and love when the Holy Spirit is in control of my life. Learn the five steps of confession and repentance to make this your experience.
8. Why Is It Difficult to Walk by a Mirror without Looking at Yourself?
Is the real you underneath your skin?
Very few of us would think of neglecting our appearance before leaving home. Few people get to see what you see in the mirror, and no one gets to see what goes on underneath your skin except God. If the Lord looks on the heart, then it follows that a checkup of your heart is more critical than an examination of your physical appearance. These Bible verses will give you a quick look at the current state of your heart.
9. At What Age Is It Acceptable to Sulk when You Can’t Have what You Want?
Why do adults behave childishly?
No one with childish habit patterns can have successful long-term relationships. In order to develop spiritually, we must recognize any carnality or childish, sinful behavior that continues into adult life. Once the condition is discovered, only God can cure the situation. He alone can clean our hearts from envy, strife, divisions, pouting, temper tantrums, and deceptive manipulation of others. Then we can move on to the meat of the Christian life.
10. Boom! The Wing of the Plane Smacked Me in the Head
Do you find yourself hurt or disappointed by people’s behavior or events?
What are you to do when you must work together with someone who repeats undesirable behavior over and over again, often deliberately and sadistically? Learn what the Bible says that we need to do if anyone mistreats us.
11. I Need to Forgive those Soldiers
Has a grudge ever helped you?
What should we do if someone apologizes but keeps repeating the same unacceptable behavior? What should we do if someone isn’t repentant about actions that hurt us? Remember, God loves us and will allow circumstances to come into our lives in order to show us what is in our hearts. In order for any of us to experience the fruit of the Spirit, we must let go of our pet grudges.
12. I Hate Pain!
Does personal peace allow you to endure more pain?
Why do we even have pain in the world? I don’t have all the answers to that question. I just know that when we have circumstances that are difficult, God has provided a way to have peace in the middle of pain. We can have peace and joy in our hearts when we are afflicted with seemingly unbearable pain. A review of the fundamentals of our faith will help us to be prepared.
13. Your Wife Has Inoperable Cancer
Is the peace of God that guards your heart and mind available in a crisis?
Can you have peace during a painful death? Where does peace come from? Peace is something that originates with God and is available to us under any conditions.
14. Living and Dying
Are most of us too busy to hear God’s whispers? Does it take a clap of thunder to get our attention?
The key to anticipating the death of the people we know and love is preparation. When you love someone and the Lord calls that person to come to Him, you will be pleased with His decision. A warm welcome from the One who loves us is what we eagerly anticipate if our conscience is clear. A prepared heart has no fear of death and what lies beyond.
15. I Prayed but I Still Didn’t Feel Right
Why do you feel good after praying sometimes, and other times you are anxious?
It seems that everyone takes his turn in enduring something he would rather not face. Praying is making our requests known to God. The decision regarding our requests is His. The evidence that you have really gotten through to God is that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
16. Anyone Who Talks about “Rejoicing Always” Just Doesn’t Understand the Real Situation
Turning everything over to God and letting Him control the situation is humanly impossible—and a fun experience.
Can one enjoy facing a crisis? I concluded that this is not humanly possible. To rejoice always requires a miracle: not just an ordinary one, but a full-blown, supernatural miracle. When we allow God to work out His plan for our lives, joy and thanksgiving will be measured in our hearts.
17. Anger Is One Letter Away from Danger
Is being a little bit angry like being a little bit pregnant?
How fast can someone become angry? Five seconds is not too fast, is it? If I can get angry in less than five seconds, I can get un-angry in the time it takes to breathe a simple prayer. It is just that simple! It has worked in my own life and in thousands of lives over the years.
18. If You Don’t Want to, You Aren’t Going to
Are your decisions in life made on the basis of whom you are trying to please?
If we put the Bible passages of Romans 5:1-5, Romans 15:13, and Hebrews 11:6 together, they tell us that walking with hope and faith while experiencing difficult times in life produces perseverance, character, love, joy, and peace. But tough times do not always produce perseverance, character, and hope; it only happens when we put our faith in the Lord.
19. The Foundation
Do you know that everyone can finish the race of life as a winner?
Seeing the lasting results in my own life and the lives of thousands of others over the last forty years has convinced me beyond any doubt that the Spirit-controlled Christian life is a miraculous experience. As long as I keep my sins confessed and ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse and fill me as often as necessary, the miracle continues.
[See more from Dr. Henry Brandt at BiblicalCounselingInsights.com]