Christian Struggles: How to Overcome: (part five)
Our Struggles Are Minimized By Serving Others.
Living our faith by serving others, we gain perspectives on our own struggles.
Faith is not just something we believe—it’s something we live.
As Christians, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We show His love to the world through our actions. This means embodying His teachings in our everyday interactions, promoting kindness and compassion in all that we do.
By serving others, we can make a profound impact. We show that faith is not merely a set of beliefs but a lifestyle characterized by love, grace, and mercy. Our daily decisions and relationships reflect our spiritual convictions, urging us to be messengers of hope. We brighten the lives of others, and that same light brightens our lives as well.
We Serve As A Way to Manage Our Struggles
When we face struggles, it’s easy to ignore the suffering of those around us. In the midst of our chaos, we can become so enveloped in our own challenges that we forget the weight others bear. One of the best ways to manage our own struggles is to step outside of ourselves. Helping others in their own battles can be incredibly rewarding. Haven’t you noticed that when you face something tough, and you help someone else, you begin to forget your own tough times? Even if it’s just for a moment, it makes a difference.
Acts of kindness can give us more than just a momentary distraction. They can shift our perspective. They remind us that we are not alone in our suffering. Engaging with others can lift our spirits and offer a fresh outlook on our own problems. If nothing else, it gives our minds a little reprieve from incessantly thinking. Most of us tend to overanalyze our difficulties. Perhaps, we would be better served by simply taking a step back. Letting ourselves breathe for a moment could help.
Don’t Have To Figure It Out Ourselves.
Many times, people fall into the trap of trying to figure it all out on their own. But maybe, just maybe, if we gave our minds a rest and invited God into our decision-making, we’d find ourselves in a more peaceful and clearer mindset. I’m not suggesting we do nothing and expect God to handle everything for us. Hardly.
Life requires action, effort, and intention. Yet, there’s a profound strength in knowing when to act and when to trust. We can actively seek answers while at the same time letting God ultimately decide the right path. It’s a delicate balance—a dance between faith and action. Through this process, we can cultivate resilience and empathy, not just for ourselves, but for those we meet on our journey. By helping others, we grow in understanding and compassion, finding healing along the way.
“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” – James 2:17
Real-Life Reflection:
Michael felt a nudge to start volunteering at a local shelter, even though he didn’t feel particularly qualified. He felt out of place among people different from him.
But soon he found that underneath his facade, he wasn’t much different than the others. He found himself embracing relationships with those much different than him. He found he could learn from their experiences and was humbled by their stories of survival.
Michael discovered a deeper sense of purpose and connection with God. His faith came alive. He saw how small acts of kindness could make a big impact. These acts affected not just others but himself as well.
He made visiting the homeless shelters a weekly part of his life. He even met his wife there, which was a story in itself he loved to share.
Devotional Questions:
- How can you live out your faith in practical ways?
- What opportunities do you have to serve others in your community?
- How does serving others deepen your relationship with God?
Conclusion:
It’s a fact of life, Christians struggle. I don’t know a single Christian who hasn’t suffered trials. Throughout history, many have died for their faith. We must acknowledge our humanness in order to live our faith. So when our struggles inevitably come, we are not as shell-shocked as we could be. It’s not that we look for problems around every corner, but that our first response is to turn to God.
God bless, and have a great day.
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When your “mission” smacks you in the face
Saturday morning. Five-o-clock. The phone rings. bri-i-i-i-ing I can’t say it was unexpected. “Mom has fallen. I’m in the ER with her. I think she broke her wrist”, my brother tells me. “Do you want me to come”? I ask after getting a little more information. He said no. She was already in the examining Read more
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This has been a good week. But I fell off the wagon on Friday. For months now, I’ve been amazingly disciplined with my exercise routine and eating habits. Until I saw a big bag of Cheetos at the grocery store. The bag practically jumped off the shelf into my cart. It was meant to be. Read more
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What is your mission as a Christian? Do you know?
(Continuing with yesterday’s theme) Do we all have the same mission? It’s a b-i-g subject. I think followers of Christ all share the same purpose. I could phrase it a dozen different ways but it all boils down to bringing honor to God, wouldn’t you agree? Honoring God covers a lot of areas. But what Read more
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Do you have a hard time defining your mission?
A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with someone that went like this: “I don’t know what I’m on earth for. I serve no purpose for anyone.” While that is not true, I understood what they meant. I think we have all been there, at one point in our life. (Unless, of course, we are Read more
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What do you really believe about God?
I was reading something the other day that really got me to thinking about the attributes of God, one in particular, his omnipresence. Omnipresence means God is always present, everywhere, at the same time. He surrounds me as I type and he surrounds you as you read. That doesn’t mean he resides in each of us Read more
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Wait till you see my failed lemon cake!
I made my daughter’s day today. Isn’t that what mothers are supposed to do? Give their children something to laugh about and remember? I had this great new cake recipe I was trying out. It’s a lemonade cake made with Squirt soda and is really good. My friend had made it a few weeks ago. Read more
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When your “mission” smacks you in the face
Saturday morning. Five-o-clock. The phone rings. bri-i-i-i-ing I can’t say it was unexpected. “Mom has fallen. I’m in the ER with her. I think she broke her wrist”, my brother tells me. “Do you want me to come”? I ask after getting a little more information. He said no. She was already in the examining Read more
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The week in review and how I fell off the wagon
This has been a good week. But I fell off the wagon on Friday. For months now, I’ve been amazingly disciplined with my exercise routine and eating habits. Until I saw a big bag of Cheetos at the grocery store. The bag practically jumped off the shelf into my cart. It was meant to be. Read more
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What is your mission as a Christian? Do you know?
(Continuing with yesterday’s theme) Do we all have the same mission? It’s a b-i-g subject. I think followers of Christ all share the same purpose. I could phrase it a dozen different ways but it all boils down to bringing honor to God, wouldn’t you agree? Honoring God covers a lot of areas. But what Read more
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Do you have a hard time defining your mission?
A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with someone that went like this: “I don’t know what I’m on earth for. I serve no purpose for anyone.” While that is not true, I understood what they meant. I think we have all been there, at one point in our life. (Unless, of course, we are Read more
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What do you really believe about God?
I was reading something the other day that really got me to thinking about the attributes of God, one in particular, his omnipresence. Omnipresence means God is always present, everywhere, at the same time. He surrounds me as I type and he surrounds you as you read. That doesn’t mean he resides in each of us Read more
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Wait till you see my failed lemon cake!
I made my daughter’s day today. Isn’t that what mothers are supposed to do? Give their children something to laugh about and remember? I had this great new cake recipe I was trying out. It’s a lemonade cake made with Squirt soda and is really good. My friend had made it a few weeks ago. Read more
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