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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a sudden fall
Sometimes we stumble into a hole and we have no clue why we didn’t see it coming. Our moods have plummeted and we can’t for the life of us figure out why. It’s as though someone pulled a plug and all of our “well feeling” was sucked out. It’s at these times we get so scared Read more
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Wherever you go, there you are!
The above is the title of a book by Jon Kabat-Zinn. It’s suggests that if you are,harried, always in a rush, and disorganized, look to your mind first, not your external circumstances. Stress almost always starts within us rather than outside us.We don’t have a whole lot of choice sometimes about what goes on around Read more
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cleaning my closets
Today I had a marathon closet cleaning. It’s been a long time since I’ve cleaned it. I was appalled. I found items I didn’t even know I had. How about twenty black tanks! That’s embarrassing. I have a couple of boxes full of clothes ready to head to Goodwill or our local rescue mission. I Read more
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my hero
This is easy for me. I chose my husband. I’m sure there are many women who share my sentiment about their own husbands. But this is my blog so I guess I can honor whomever I choose. Right? 🙂 Not only has he stood by me through my episodes of depression; he never criticized or judged Read more
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sick and tired of congress and their egos
Are you as sick and tired of Congress as I am? Actually, I don’t even have to ask. I don’t know anyone who feels otherwise. What job do you know where you can not show up and still get paid? What job do you know where “blah, blah, blah” sounds intelligent? What job do Read more
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creativity and letting go
This has been a tiring day. Got up early and headed to my mom’s. Husband cleaned out her shed and we hauled some drywall, insulation and some lumber back to our house. She had fixed “Chili Mac”(kind of like goulash) the day before but it didn’t turn out very good so I “doctored” it for Read more
-
a sudden fall
Sometimes we stumble into a hole and we have no clue why we didn’t see it coming. Our moods have plummeted and we can’t for the life of us figure out why. It’s as though someone pulled a plug and all of our “well feeling” was sucked out. It’s at these times we get so scared Read more
-
Wherever you go, there you are!
The above is the title of a book by Jon Kabat-Zinn. It’s suggests that if you are,harried, always in a rush, and disorganized, look to your mind first, not your external circumstances. Stress almost always starts within us rather than outside us.We don’t have a whole lot of choice sometimes about what goes on around Read more
-
cleaning my closets
Today I had a marathon closet cleaning. It’s been a long time since I’ve cleaned it. I was appalled. I found items I didn’t even know I had. How about twenty black tanks! That’s embarrassing. I have a couple of boxes full of clothes ready to head to Goodwill or our local rescue mission. I Read more
-
my hero
This is easy for me. I chose my husband. I’m sure there are many women who share my sentiment about their own husbands. But this is my blog so I guess I can honor whomever I choose. Right? 🙂 Not only has he stood by me through my episodes of depression; he never criticized or judged Read more
-
sick and tired of congress and their egos
Are you as sick and tired of Congress as I am? Actually, I don’t even have to ask. I don’t know anyone who feels otherwise. What job do you know where you can not show up and still get paid? What job do you know where “blah, blah, blah” sounds intelligent? What job do Read more
-
creativity and letting go
This has been a tiring day. Got up early and headed to my mom’s. Husband cleaned out her shed and we hauled some drywall, insulation and some lumber back to our house. She had fixed “Chili Mac”(kind of like goulash) the day before but it didn’t turn out very good so I “doctored” it for Read more
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