The Power of Position: Rising Above the Frustrations of Life

[The following is an excerpt from A Walk Thru the Book of Ephesians: Real Power for Daily Life a small group study guide from Walk Thru the Bible and Baker Books. © 2009 by Walk Thru the Bible]

There's still a copy of the ticket on the wall of the den. It's framed and a little dusty, but prominently displayed. Ken's windfall seven years ago wasn't a huge amount by lottery standards, but it was enough to get him out of a hole—for a time. He keeps another copy of the ticket in his wallet. It reminds him that at least on one beautiful day long ago, he was very lucky. And who knows? Maybe it will bring him luck again.

Christine is worried about her future. Will she find a job? A nicer apartment? Or, most importantly, a husband? She could probably wait for the first two to unfold on their own, but the third . . . well, she's desperate to know. And the number for that psychic hotline seems to show up on TV at oddly "coincidental" times—like when she's been thinking about her future and a phone is nearby. She's starting to wonder if it's worth a try.

Matt has been mail-ordering an expensive cologne—or, as the ad called it, "a pheromone-enhanced product for men." He might as well, he figures. His looks and personality haven't won him any dates in over a year. Something has to work. Maybe this is it.

Alan has been putting a huge prayer request before the Lord for years. He's been very persistent and, by no choice of his own, very patient. Sometimes he thinks the waiting has been ordained by God, and sometimes he just thinks he must have blown it somewhere along the way. "Maybe," he says to himself, "if I become as holy as a Christian is supposed to be, God will answer." So he vows never to sin again if God will grant his request. And weekly, even daily, he's reminded that he doesn't measure up.

What do all these people have in common? They all want life to be better, and they're convinced—or want to be convinced—that a certain technique will make it so. These people aren't unusual; they represent nearly all of us in one way or another. Some of our techniques are superstitious, others mental, some mostly or partially rooted in scripture, some thoroughly godly, and others thoroughly pagan. We have rituals, habits, tricks, routines, formulas, and all sorts of other means to influence a situation. That's because we feel out of control, and we're desperate to have some semblance of mastery over our circumstances. Mostly we're just trying to get by in a frustrating world.