It is my understanding that as a Christian I am to hate my life and myself in that I am a sinner and eternal life is what truly matters. I understand this is only a tiny part of my true life. But I just can’t seem to enjoy anything being so preoccupied with going to heaven. And I am very unhappy. God calls us to be joyful but how can I be joyful in this world? It is evil and ran by the devil. I don’t want to love the world but how am I to go on?
Hi and welcome to CC.
I am not sure where and why you understand that you are to hate your life.
I can't recall any Bible verses that say we are to believe this.
Afterall if God has given us life (and only he can give life and take it away) why would he ask us to hate the life he has given us.
Yes we may hate our life but that's different from being called to hate it.
We may hate our life because of life's experiences.
That cause pain and hurt that we carry over and dictate how we walk with Jesus.
If we are to hate anything it should be the things in our life that stunts our walk with Jesus.
Now if God has given you life there must be a purpose, no matter how life has been so bad.
Romans 8:28-30
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
But you say I don't want to love the world.
But God did.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
That does not mean you have to be like the world but be in it yet be like Jesus.
The world is not run by satan.
God is in control.
Satan has no authority other than what God gives him.