05 Jun When Being A Christian Is Hard.
As long as we live in this world, we will have to deal with the challenges of not being of the world. It is not an easy task to swim against the tide and that is exactly what it is like to live in this world as a Christian. Our beliefs, culture, values, and everything are different. Christians who truly want to live life as a follower of Christ cannot escape persecutions, misunderstandings and other challenges that come with wanting to swim against the tide and living different from the world.
So yes, there are times when being a Christian gets hard, I had to ask a few Christians whose response form part of what I about to share, below are some of those instances.
1. When your friends have to leave, or you have to leave them.
The moment you give your life to Christ, something in you changes. Your preferred topic of discussion, choice of hang out and all of that. This change also affects your friends, you have to draw a line with the people you have known as friends almost all your life, most times you have to sever them completely, it can be very hard, letting go of long time friends.
It is challenging, but necessary.
The [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God. Psalm 14: 1 AMP
Walk with wise people and become wise; befriend fools and get in trouble. Proverbs 13:20 CEB
2. When Things are not going like you had hoped.
Many times Christians think that things will go their way all the time, they have done all that the word of God demand. But alas, they see that those who do not even like the name of The Lord are getting blessed in areas they have been trusting God for. This is hard…
Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but fear the Lord constantly; then you will have a future, and your hope won’t be cut off. Proverbs 23:17-18 CEB
3. When you have to wait for God.
Waiting is hard… When you have to wait on God for admission, a job, a big break, enough money for your needs, a spouse to marry, to have a baby, to see your children get married…
We all want things to happen in our time, the time when we think they should happen. But when we have to wait for God’s time as Christians… It is hard.
Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and [e]carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. Hebrews 10:35-36 AMP
4. When you have to love someone who keeps hurting you.
We are commanded as Christians to love, but when someone hurts you, keeps hurting you, will not love you back or is a sworn enemy… It is hard to love that person.
But I tell everyone who is listening: Love your enemies. Be kind to those who hate you. Luke 6:27 GW Click To Tweet
You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy; But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, to show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike]. For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that? And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles (the heathen) do that? When someone you did good to will not appreciate it. Matthew 5: 43-47 AMP
5. When someone you did good to will not appreciate it.
You know what I am talking about. Even when we know we ought to do it as unto the Lord, it still hurts when you have “poured out your life” for someone and the person does not give a hoot. When it looks like you are being taken for granted.
It hurts, and it is hard…
Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9 CEB
6. When you have to pray always.
Every believer is expected to pray literarily pray all the time. With all the numerous things competing intensely for our time: family, work, business, friends and even Church.
Giving attention to spouse and children, tired from work, commitment to friends, trying to work the business and finding time to pray…. It is hard, but if we must survive as followers of Christ, prayer is a must.
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: Matthew 26:41 Click To Tweet
Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 GW
Offer prayers and petitions in the Spirit all the time. Stay alert by hanging in there… Ephesians 6:18 CEB
We Were Told Before Hand.
Make no mistake, even God has told us that the path we take is not easy. He says there are pressures on the path of believers, these pressures make it tight, compressed, hard…
Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it. Matthew 7:13-14 AMP
These challenges for believers are real and true, but it can be dealt with as we yield ourselves completely and continually to The Spirit of God, submitting our spirits, souls and bodies to Him.
But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God). Galatians 5:16 AMP
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13 AMP
God is not a task master, he does not ask us to be or do what He has not already enabled us to do. Click To Tweet
To crown it all, there is a reward…
Jesus said, Truly I tell you, there is no one who has given up and left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for My sake and for the Gospel’s who will not receive a hundred times as much now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 AMP
- Do you agree that sometimes it is hard to be a Christian?
- When has it been hard for you?
Copyright© Teshuva 2015
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Posted at 16:20h, 06 JuneWe’re promised nothing in this world beyond a cross of our own, if we follow Jesus.
Expect to get hammered, and it won’t hurt that much.
Worth it in the end, though.
Ugochi Oritsejolomisan
Posted at 19:28h, 09 JuneIt is true that we have crosses to bear as believers, but we do have promises to enjoy in this world. Sorry for such a long response but these are only few of God’s promises in His word:
2 Peter 1:4
And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Matthew 11:28-29
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.
Philippians 4:19
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:37-39
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Proverbs 1:33
But all who listen to me will live in peace,
untroubled by fear of harm.”
John 14:27
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Romans 10:9
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
The promises of God are powerful and awesome to grasp. I pray that these scriptures about God’s promises were helpful to you today.
Jesus said, Truly I tell you, there is no one who has given up and left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for My sake and for the Gospel’s who will not receive a hundred times as much now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 AMP
Cheryl Smith
Posted at 12:37h, 06 JuneYES, I surely agree that the path of a Christian is not the path of least resistance. I think the Scripture that best helps me with things I do not understand and difficulties that I cannot reconcile is Luke 17:10 where Jesus said this, “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” The part that is hardest for me is the part when I know I am walking in total obedience and not rebelling on any line, and in spite of all, the road is SO hard and everything seems to be going in reverse and I am tempted to say, “Lord, I have done all, and still I feel forsaken and tried on every side.” It is then that I hear Him say the words in this verse to me. He ALWAYS puts everything in its right perspective. I have found and am finding more and more that every, single question of life can be answered the red letters in my Bible. Oh, I love HIS Words!!! However hard this Christian life is, Heaven will surely be worth it all, praise His name! And walking with Jesus is the most precious thing in this world. That daily communion with Him makes it all so worthwhile.
Ugochi Oritsejolomisan
Posted at 19:15h, 09 JuneHeaven IS worth it Cheryl! You seem to have walked in a similar path as mine.
Thanks for this encouragement.
Have a super blessed day!
Love