Am I Filled With My Own Ways?

But I cannot let you go without trying to do you good. 

• I do pity you indeed, because you are so unhappy. 
• I know it; I am sure of it; it is useless to deny it. 
• You have been unhappy ever since you fell away. 

You are unhappy at home, and unhappy abroad; 

• unhappy in company, and unhappy alone; 
• unhappy when you lie down, and unhappy when you rise up. 

You may have got riches, honor, love, obedience, friends; 

• but yet the sting remains. 
• There is a famine of consolation about you; 
• there is an utter dearth of inward peace. 

You are sick at heart; 

• you are ill at ease; 

You are discontented with everybody, 

• because you are discontented with yourself. 

You are like a bird that has wandered from her nest—

• you never feel in your right place. 

You have too much Christianity to enjoy the world, 

• and too little faith to enjoy God. 

You are weary of life, 

• and yet afraid to die. 

Truly the words of Solomon are made good in your case, 

• “You are filled with your own ways."

Adapted Excerpt From

Startling Questions

J. C. Ryle