Struggles as Christians: How To Overcome (Part three)
Uncertainty is one of our struggles.
It’s hard to trust when things are uncertain. And yet, when you think about it, there is always some degree of uncertainty in life. Life is ever-evolving. And some years it seems like change is the norm.
And even when life seems certain, wait a second. It will change. Count on it.
In fact, there is more uncertainty in life than there is certainty. But it can be especially challenging for Christians who are called to walk by faith, and not by sight. This journey requires a deep reliance on God’s promises, even when the outcomes are unclear. When the path ahead is unclear, trusting God can feel like stepping into the unknown without a safety net.
Fear doesn’t help
I’m a natural scaredy-cat. It’s hard for me to trust God. I have to step out in faith all the time, or I would never walk at all. I’ve done a few author promotions, and I’ve trembled in fear the whole time. I’m afraid to even talk about my books. How ridiculous is that? Hundreds and hundreds of hours of work, and yet I get scared every time someone asks me about my books. (God has really been convicting me about this.)
Embrace the uncertainty.
However, embracing this uncertainty can lead to profound growth and spiritual maturity, enabling us to navigate life’s complexities with greater grace and strength. It allows us to develop resilience, a crucial skill that helps us bounce back from adversity, and fosters a greater understanding of God’s sovereignty over our circumstances.
In recognizing that our experiences are part of a divine plan, we find comfort and peace. This perspective encourages us to trust in the unfolding journey, providing the opportunity to surrender our fears and anxieties to Him. We can know that we are guided and supported every step of the way. Ultimately, this process cultivates a deeper relationship with God, helping us to grow in faith and compassion towards ourselves and others.
However, this is also probably one of the hardest things to do as Christians. Sometimes, visualization can help. Think of a windy path through the woods. You can’t see around the corner. But God walks before you with a flashlight illuminating your path. He looks back at you now and then and says, “It’s OK. Just keep following me.”
In these moments, verses like this become a vital lifeline.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to him and and he will you make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Real-Life Reflection: David faced a season of career uncertainty that left him questioning his purpose. He had always been a planner, but when his carefully laid plans fell apart, he felt lost. David was on the fast track to a big promotion when a car accident derailed him and left him permanently injured. He knew his career was over.
But through prayer and seeking counsel from trusted mentors, David began to see God’s plan unfolding in ways he had not expected. He learned to take one step at a time. He trusted that God was guiding him, even when the destination wasn’t clear.
The career path he had planned took another, but better turn. He learned he could do even greater things because of the uncertainty of his health. Eventually, he learned to appreciate his limitations. Like the apostle Paul, he learned grace through the “thorn in his side.”(2 Corinthians 12:7-10.)
Devotional Questions:
- When have you faced uncertainty in your life?
- How did you learn to trust God during that time?
- What steps can you take to strengthen your faith in uncertain seasons?
God bless, and have a great day.
-
Why playing every day isn’t as good as hard work
I figure most people are not going to be interested in reading a “deep” post today. Most people are going to be catching up from the week-end, either at work or in your home. So today I want to share just a little something that might help you get through this first-day-back-after-a-fun-time. Wouldn’t it be Read more
-
Remembering the sacrifices and behaving like we do
Hubby and I visited my dad’s cemetery to freshen up the site and place new decorations. My father was a WW II veteran although he never engaged in combat. However, he had his battle scars because of where he was stationed during his time in the service. He suffered severe chronic bronchitis his entire life. I Read more
-
week in review and thank you WWII vets
My hubby and I are watching “Pearl Harbor” tonight as a tribute to World War II veterans. Then we will watch a couple of other movies that remind us what our freedom caused so many. According to statistics released by the Veteran’s Administration, our World War II vets are dying at a rate of approximately Read more
-
How to treat sweating the “natural” way.
How many of you have big plans for this week-end? Are you kayaking or canoeing? Camping? One thing these activities might have in common is sweating. Yep, sweating. A smelly topic, huh? But if your’re into the “natural” approach to things, you might like this article. I haven’t tried it myself but seeing as lemons Read more
-
Why we should make good word choices
Why are some people so mean and thoughtless? Why do they saw suck unkind things? Why do they use words like “retarded” and stupid? There’s nothing wrong with the word itself. Words by themselves are fairly neutral but we all know how we feel when we’ve been the recipient of a word used in a derogatory manner. Read more
-
Why “anyway” can be a great encouragement
(continued from yesterday) The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think big anyway. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People Read more
Discover more from goodthoughtsgoodlives
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
