I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase, “The Struggle is Real”. What does that mean and how does it factor into your faith?
I’ve spent the last couple of weeks just soaking up an understanding of grace. The messages are so good I keep replaying them to mke sure my new understanding is concrete. Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. I’ve heard this scripture a million times, but I finally got it as it applies to me this week. I grew up in a religious, denominational church setting and I’ve spent the last decade trying to separate religion from salvation. Yes, I’m speaking of the same decade I spent in a never ending revolving door of hospital stays and visits. I think I’ve always had compassion for the underdog, but it was usually those I could relate to. Now I find myself trying to stoop to levels I’ve never seen before so I can get a better understanding of those who feel dogged out. I even feel a tug to understand those who appear to have everything, but something in their beahvior seems off to me; that something is my compassion signal. It sucks, no really, it does. If you have everything, then let me go where help is needed, not expected. As one that experiences struggles internally now, let me say, the struggle is real! Glory to God!! That probably sounded strange, but let me explain. When apathy was my default setting, there was no struggle. I was engaged or completely apathetic. Have I mentioned apathy is like my favorite pair of pajamas and cup of tea and schnack all wrapped into a feeling? (I purposely mispronounce words to exaggerate my love for them). Sounds great right? Problem is apathy keeps me from other people, family and friends, those God could use me to reach, etc. As long as I struggle with my innate desire to burrow myself, God can reach and use me.When I read or hear about someone struggling with an issue, I praise God. Struggling represents God is actively at work and that person is still in position to receive deliverance. Don’t let an organization or person make you feel like your struggle is the absence of God, it’s not. It means God is using all means necessary to draw you and work something through and out of you.
Trust me, I know. I’ve spent years, (Years!) feeling envious and as a result bitter. It probably didn’t help that my nuturing environment was full of comparisons where I always came up short, but it continued as I became an adult. I’ve struggled with this issue for so long that I almost didn’t recognize my deliverance. Usually when I celebrate with someone it is always followed with a pity-party of when is it my turn. This past week I was celebrating the goodness of God in the lives of my two bestfriends. I mean truly and genuinely happy for the progress in their lives! When I hung up the phone with each of them I turned back to my assignment/purpose. I had typed something out before God tapped me on the shoulder and asked how I was feeling. Well, I was a bit hungry and hadn’t taken any medicine for my discomfort yet, but overall I was ok. He asked did I notice the absence of envy and the accompanying whining? Well, now that I think about it, yeah; what is that? He said freedom and deliverance. I am so focused on doing what I know I’m purposed to do that I don’t have the space, mentally or emotionally, to bemoan imagined lack in my life.
If you’re struggling with something, keep fighting. Don’t let anyone convince you that a struggle means God is not with you; the fact that you struggle is proof that His presence is right there with you. Keep struggling until you get delivered and you can see it for yourself.
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