Evelyn told me that she liked the school we were running. “Have you learned to trust Christ since you came to the school?” I asked her.
Evelyn sadly answered, “I trusted Him once.”
“Do you believe that you were saved then?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Well, Evelyn, can’t you still say the same thing?”
She shook her head “No” in reply.
“Do you think,” I asked, “that the change is in you or in the Lord Jesus?”
“I know it must be in me,” she said, and I knew that she
was right.
Are you unhappy, like Evelyn, and wonder if you are even saved? This is written for such people, and there are many. Let’s start with this: There is no change in the Lord; it must be in us.
How is it that some people, even true believers, become so unhappy? When I was a boy, I had that trouble. But then an older man said to me, “Well, my boy, I believe it is either because you are not resting in Christ, or because you are going on with some sinful habit.” These words helped me. I realized that I was not truly “resting in Christ,” and God helped me to simply trust in the Savior, to believe that He died for sinners — He was my only hope.
Are you resting in Christ? Many boys and girls become unhappy soon after they are saved, because instead of remembering that Christ is the Savior of sinners, they look at themselves expecting to find that they are now good, and they are disappointed. They discover that their old evil nature is still there. Sinful thoughts still come into their mind; they still lose their temper or say unkind words ... and they begin to wonder, Can He still love me when I’m still so naughty? Peace disappears, and they may doubt if they are even saved. But this is not resting in Christ. The judgment which our sins deserve was already put on Him. He took care of it all, and as a proof of this, He rose victorious from the grave and now sits at the right hand of God. Do not doubt His power or His love, but go to Him in prayer. Tell Him what sins you have done, and then rest in Him — trust in Him.
But maybe your problem comes because you are still doing some sinful things that you did before you were saved. The Bible says, “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-21What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:1‑2)). If it is a sinful habit (things like looking at sinful things or reading bad books) which is ruining your peace, I beg you by all that Christ has suffered on the cross: Don’t keep doing it. May He who died for you touch your heart as you remember His grace, and may He bring you to your knees in prayer before Him. “If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)). He will forgive you and restore
your happiness.
Messages of God’s Love 11/9/2025