6 Reasons You Might be Struggling
A surrendered life in Jesus brings the deepest knowable sense of peace and joy in our lives. Being in relationship and communion with our loving, nurturing and merciful God is the best life experience. But God never promised us a life here on Earth devoid of trouble. This side of Heaven, we’re still living in a fallen world, subject to the imperfect nature of our flesh and schemes of Satan. Here are 6 things to think about when you’re facing times of struggle.
To Test and Grow Our Faith - Sometimes God will either allow or cause us to experience struggles to test and grow our faith. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance (James 1:2-3). God will always have good things for us and always guide us into places that are for our good. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). God knows where he’s taking you, you can trust him.
Poor Decisions - Let’s face it, sometimes we just make poor decisions, even after knowing God’s instructions. How many children have been warned not to touch the hot stove, yet they go ahead and touch it. Their pain is a result of disobedience and poor decisions, not the parent’s discipline. There’s enough struggle in life, don’t compound it with poor decision-making. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler (1 Peter 4:15). God is saying there will be suffering, but don’t let it be as a result of poor decisions.
To Help Someone Else Down The Road - Have you ever been able to help or comfort someone experiencing something that you’ve gone through before? (God) comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:4). Are you going through a difficult time now? Know that God will comfort you through it and maybe allow you to minister to someone down the road.
We Live In Fallen World - It’s a fallen world, rife with physical maladies, natural disasters, relational strife and evil. But our hope and confidence is in Jesus who told us there would be trouble. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
To Put Our Faith On Display - God will use our response to trouble as an example of what it means to live a life of faith, counting on God for our well-being, for his unfailing love and caring. As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him (John 9:1-3).
To Discipline Us In Love - Sometimes parents have to discipline their children, not that they’re mean or want to hurt them, but to help them. Always for their good. It’s the same with God. Sometimes he disciplines us to help us understand and live a more Godly life. My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child (Hebrews 12:5-6).
If you’re struggling now or when that time does come, know God loves you and, whatever it is, he’ll get you through it and you’ll emerge stronger and deeper in faith and in your walk with him. …we glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us Romans 5:3-4).
Trouble and suffering doesn’t mean God is angry with you and wants to hurt you. He loves you and wants you to walk closer with him.
