It’s Hard to Be Christian
It isn’t lost on me how “crazy” being a Christian looks to the world. (insert shoulder shrug)
Losing friends or family happens.
Several Christians would agree that in their lives before being saved, Christianity was a farse, silly, didn’t make sense, etc. We believe through faith, not by sight, and for some, it is hard to wrap their minds around that.
And when you are saved, washed clean, it’s more than that. It becomes a new life.
Unless you were raised in the church, more than likely you had a difficult time believing until God showed up in an undeniable way.
The first time I knew God was with me was in my sorrow after I lost a grandfather. I was lying in bed alone, sobbing, and I felt arms wrap around me. I wasn’t scared, I was comforted, and I went to sleep. I thought about that time often, but it wasn’t until I was much older that I realized what happened.
Letting the world go and picking up my cross to follow Jesus was the absolute best decision of my life.
Everything changed, but not fast or easily because my flesh is strong and stubborn.
Personally, I struggle to give up control.
-And I still struggle to keep my thoughts from slipping out of my mouth.
-And to love some people.
The world we live in, the carnal nature of humanity, is filled with unhealthy things.
It’s hard to be human sometimes, much less Christian.
And we have to do this every day.
There are times when I really want to give over to my flesh. I want to burn everything down and try again.
If we aren’t careful, on guard, and diligent, those sly little lies the Devil speaks wrap around our mind and the next thing you know-You start to believe you don’t have friends, no one likes you, and you aren’t good enough for what you are pursuing and so on.
That will lead you right through the door of pity, shame, sorrow, woes, and behaviors you fought against for so long.
Maybe, you’re worn out and it’s becoming exhausting to exist.
There have been times when I feel like I am splitting in two, trying to keep myself together and make the right decision. And if someone had just come and put duct tape around me, it would have been easier.
I wonder “maybe I was better drinking because at least my personality came out” or “people seemed to like me better that way”.
I had fun being intoxicated…at least, I’m pretty sure I did. I can’t be certain. The majority of my mess-ups happened under the influence. Alcohol got me into the worst relationship of my life, and sobriety got me out of it.
Sobriety opened doors that were otherwise sealed shut.
It is hard to be a Christian and constantly fight against the ways of the world.
It’s harder living in this world if you aren’t following Jesus.
I have done both. I follow Jesus with much more enthusiasm than I did the world.
Choose the hard. One leads to salvation at the end and even in the hard, you will find yourself coming out better for it.
We can’t escape the trials, and we can’t give in to the pain.
Feel the emotions and move on.
Jesus never promised an easy life. His life wasn’t easy. And I can promise it is so much better.