I’m going to be perfectly honest, there are days where throwing in the towel and “calling it quits” in a foreign land sounds like pretty good idea. There are times where I look at our struggles and ask, “Why God? Why me? Why us?” But, we serve a God who’s “ways are not our ways and thoughts are not our thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8) He uses us in ways we’d never think of. He will continue to use us despite our faults, if we are faithful to Him. Don’t you think?
I find myself often being caught up in my own thoughts and imagination. I think that the times that I feel isolated, it proves many things to me. One of those things are that life in itself is a battlefield. It may sound schizophrenic but, we must realize that we are constantly at war with our flesh(Gal 5:17), not to mention, the added influence of the spiritual battle that happens while doing the Lord’s work. I do, find that it is somehow encouraging to struggle so intimately and deeply because that means that I am making some headway in the Kingdom’s work,so much so that the enemy would want to incapacitate me. After all, it’s when we are not struggling as a Christian that we should wonder if we are actually doing God’s work.
My thoughts on struggle, how I deal
Where I try to pay the most attention to my struggles is when they affect not only myself. I must become more aware to the influence that I have on my family and the people around me. With my whole heart and soul I want to serve my family, but they often are the first to be damaged by the war in my soul. To that I have to say, that being leery doesn’t mean to be complacent. I say this in the utmost caution. These are the things that I remind myself of. when I go through difficult times.
First there is…
The Accuser
And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, he who accuses them day and night before our God. Revelation 12:10
I sometimes imagine Satan as the annoying younger sibling, tugging on daddy’s sleeve, saying “Oooh! Oooh! But did you see what she did?!” Me personally, must not pay too much attention to the thoughts of defeat and overwhelming sinfulness that I feel. There are many times, I just feel plain unworthy of the calling to serve my family! But I must remember that the devil is and always be the accuser of the Christian.(Rev 12:10) BUT I cannot deny my own sin either. Sin dealt with early and swiftly will leave little opportunity for the accuser to come in and get a foothold in your life.(Ephesians 4:27) Remember that the enemy will attack at various times and places, always looking for the most vulnerable areas of your life and the ones that will affect your ministry. For instance, if I have the slightest feeling of resentment toward my family in any area of our relationship the enemy will use that tension to cause unnecessary tension in the mission field and outside of my family.
No Compromise
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:21-24)
Secondly, I must deal instantly with the sin that exists. If I choose to ignore plainly any small or somewhat insignificant sin in my life I instantly give Satan a foothold to take over my thoughts. As children of the light we cannot have fellowship with darkness. By allowing my sin to, as small as it may seem, to have a “tiny” part in my life means that I am serving at that point only Satan’s agenda. Jesus says, “You cannot serve two masters” (Matt 6:24). So I must immediately deal with the sins that I am aware of and never compromise.(Hebrews 10:26)
Really give it to God.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Third, I must refuse to let the sins of my past (which I’ve repented for) have any bearing on my current life. Behold you are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). God doesn’t remember my past sins and hold them over my head (Hebrews 8:12), so neither should I. God has given me a calling for a reason, to give glory to His name. He knew from the beginning what mistakes I would make along the way, how I would turn out and He specifically planned and allowed for His great plan to continue on with me. Who am I to think that my past is too great, too horrible, too despicable that I cannot be used? After all, if I share my past wickedness to the glory of the redemption that I’ve received then the praise goes only to God. If I keep my past transgressions secretly shameful, I haven’t forgiven myself or allowed God to take that part of my life. I want him to use me fully, past, present and future.
I hope that this post has blessed you. If you have any thoughts on how you deal with struggles, please feel encouraged to leave a comment.
Thank you for reminding me that scripture gives the answers n promises of Jesus if we are faithful and trust Him.
Wonderful job
Thank you! That was so encouraging.