(1) Expecting things in your life to go perfectly. Yes, you were made for eternity. That’s why you seek perfection, desire beauty, and hunger for unending happiness. But we live in an imperfect, ugly, and forlorn world because of sin. So when things don’t go your way or when things get you down or when you get scared, it’s simply a reminder that you are not home yet. But, one day, you will experience joy without interruption, happiness without it being taken away from you, and beauty without intruding shrapnels of darkness. Until then, put on a brave face and tuck hope deep into your heart.
(2) Worrying about things that are out of your control. It is liberating when you surrender your thoughts, emotions, and circumstances to the Lord who knows you better than you know yourself. Why? Because He designed you. Yes, there are times to be concerned. But do not worry in your concerned state. May your concern awake you to your perpetual need of prayer for provisions and protection: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7, NLT).
(3) Believing truth and morality are relative. Yes, it’s true, that we in the West live in a postmodern culture, which ironically waves the banner of relativism with absolute pride and conviction. But just because something is the case, it doesn’t mean it should be that way; otherwise, we fall into the precarious is-ought fallacy. There is such a thing as absolute metaphysical truths and absolute moral truths that stem from God’s good and unchanging nature for your own happiness in the midst of a world saturated with sin and suffering. Don’t allow the world to set your standard of truth based on its ever-changing ways of whatever happens to be in en vogue. Set it on the firm foundation of God’s character and Word: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Mt 7:24-27, NIV).