Struggle
Lately I have been realizing and appreciating the importance of admitting our struggles.
This is something I believe the church Clay and I attend has been exemplifying lately in Sunday morning service, Wednesday night class, the teen classes, etc... all of it is rooted in being open, honest, and admitting we aren't perfect and don't always have it all together. That we need God's help and the support of fellow Christians (who also aren't perfect and need encouragement). This has opened my eyes and made me think.
As wonderful as it sounds to just let go of burdens and share the load, there is "something" that holds me back telling me that if I admit that I have struggles with this or that I can't be a good leader, a good example, strong, well learned, and so on. That I would most likely, instead, be a disappointment and looked down upon. But the funny thing is that when I see other people share their struggles, or share their stories about struggles they previously encountered, a lot of their stories are triumphant ones that end in acceptance, recovery, and peace. Their stories encourage others because of their struggles.
Isn't that part of the whole Christian story?
Jesus prayed fervently to God asking Him to take away this burden, but in the end Christ died on a cross for us. He bore our sins so that we can live with Him.
He struggled for us and was victorious.
Our struggles should be shared with each other so that we can lift each other up and allow God to work in our lives so that our stories of struggle may be turned into stories of victory that bring glory to God.
I still have a hard time processing the idea that we should rejoice in our suffering, it sounds like such a backward idea to me, but when we look at the larger narrative of the Christian story, and our personal stories, it makes nothing but sense. We rejoice in our sufferings so that we can see God move and work - so why not share our struggles so we can let others in on how God is working? Share in the rejoicing of the work of our Savior, whether we see Him moving at the time or not. Difficult - yes. But I believe whole-heartedly that this is something we are meant to do.
Now to the hard part - actually admitting my own struggles. I think I will tackle that topic in the next post.
In the mean time, check out Romans 8 and 1 Peter 4 if you want some great texts to go along with this topic. Here is just a snippet of each....
Romans 8:15-18
When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.
This is something I believe the church Clay and I attend has been exemplifying lately in Sunday morning service, Wednesday night class, the teen classes, etc... all of it is rooted in being open, honest, and admitting we aren't perfect and don't always have it all together. That we need God's help and the support of fellow Christians (who also aren't perfect and need encouragement). This has opened my eyes and made me think.
As wonderful as it sounds to just let go of burdens and share the load, there is "something" that holds me back telling me that if I admit that I have struggles with this or that I can't be a good leader, a good example, strong, well learned, and so on. That I would most likely, instead, be a disappointment and looked down upon. But the funny thing is that when I see other people share their struggles, or share their stories about struggles they previously encountered, a lot of their stories are triumphant ones that end in acceptance, recovery, and peace. Their stories encourage others because of their struggles.
Isn't that part of the whole Christian story?
Jesus prayed fervently to God asking Him to take away this burden, but in the end Christ died on a cross for us. He bore our sins so that we can live with Him.
He struggled for us and was victorious.
Our struggles should be shared with each other so that we can lift each other up and allow God to work in our lives so that our stories of struggle may be turned into stories of victory that bring glory to God.
I still have a hard time processing the idea that we should rejoice in our suffering, it sounds like such a backward idea to me, but when we look at the larger narrative of the Christian story, and our personal stories, it makes nothing but sense. We rejoice in our sufferings so that we can see God move and work - so why not share our struggles so we can let others in on how God is working? Share in the rejoicing of the work of our Savior, whether we see Him moving at the time or not. Difficult - yes. But I believe whole-heartedly that this is something we are meant to do.
Now to the hard part - actually admitting my own struggles. I think I will tackle that topic in the next post.
In the mean time, check out Romans 8 and 1 Peter 4 if you want some great texts to go along with this topic. Here is just a snippet of each....
1 Peter 4:12-13
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.Romans 8:15-18
When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.
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