Imagine if we were to engineer a type of pill that could give us all the nourishment we would ever need in a day. This pill would contain every vitamin, mineral, and calorie a person could ever use. As long as we’re talking crazy, let’s say it contains the necessary hormones to stave off any sort of hunger we would ever feel, as well.

Knowing how amazing food is, could you do it? Could you sacrifice the enjoyment of sinking your teeth into an ooey-gooey, warm-and-melty piece of pizza? Could you go the rest of your life without carving your way through a big bowl of your favorite ice cream?

As long as we’re getting what we ultimately need from food, there’s no point in the process, right? Why bother with all the ceremony when we could give ourselves everything food provides in the blink of an eye by swallowing a pill?

I think most of us can agree that this would be an absurd way to respond to food. But why do we approach a relationship with Jesus like this?

As Christians, we talk about the most satisfying, fulfilling relationship anyone could ever know. We swear up and down that the ways of the world are repulsive and should be avoided at all costs; yet it seems we get caught up in approaching our loving savior in the same way that we approach a flame-broiled Whopper. I want it my way, and I want it now.

At what point did we decide that hearing from God was work? When did we lose appreciation for the journey of reading, studying, and meditating on God’s living word? Have we really been led to believe that if we simply manage to glean all of the lessons from the Bible that we’ll finally “get it?” We’ve been offered eternal salvation and a promise from an everlasting God that he will walk hand-in-hand with us through every joy and trial in our lives. But instead of walking by his side, we try to drag God by the hand and hurry him along as if we have somewhere else we’d rather be.

Of course our culture isn’t going to change anytime soon. It’s up to us to put our relationship with Jesus in perspective. We face many decisions every day, and by making a choice to endure and enjoy the journey instead of instantly rewarding ourselves, we can slowly teach our hearts to have greater faith in God’s timing.

So, the next time your pastor doesn’t answer every question you have about a topic, try doing the research and letting God show you the answers instead of just sending an email to your pastor and taking the easy way out. Or the next time you’re facing a difficult trial, pray for the faith and wisdom to endure the suffering rather than for a swift conclusion. Even if you’re thumbing through the pages of God’s word and you end up confused by what you read, try thanking God for the opportunity to explore the depths of his love. Deep down, you know working through it will be much more gratifying and worthwhile than swallowing a pill.