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Oh no! I thought I was over this! Why does it keep coming back? Sometimes our struggles can be like a head cold that lingers. We think we got rid of it and then it hits us again! One thing every human has had in common since the beginning is struggle. The fact that struggles are so common in our lives does not change the reality that dealing with struggles can be tough! Just like we have medicines to get rid of pesky colds, let’s look at some remedies to fight off struggles.
Medicine #1 Knowledge
When we understand why we struggle, it is easier for us to overcome. In the very first temptation, Satan tempts Eve not just with tasty fruit but also with the promise that she will be like God. We can notice two lies Satan tells Eve in this temptation.
Lie #1: God is not enough
The thought of being like our holy, wise creator probably sounded pretty awesome! It was not until Satan gave Eve the promise of being like God that sin started looking desirable (Genesis 3:6). Back up to Genesis 1:27. This verse states,
“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female he created them.”
God had already created Adam and Eve in His image. They did not need to eat of the fruit to be like God. Satan wanted Adam and Eve to believe that the blessings from God were not enough. Insecurity, the belief that what we have is not enough, is typically why we start desiring sin.
Lie #2 God does not mean what He says.
Before Satan made sin look desirable, Eve understood the consequences of eating the fruit. While striving to make sin appealing, Satan undermines the consequences. He makes sin look like no big deal or tries to help us justify it. Sneakily, he shows us all the ways sin will make us happy and why we need it in our lives. He promises us great things. However, instead of getting those great things, we find shame which often leads to a cycle of running and hiding from God. (****Note If something in your life makes you hide from God, your parents, Christian friends, or a spouse, that thing is probably sinful.)
God’s word trumps the lies.
Through God’s word, we learn that God’s promises are always true, and Satan’s promises are always false senses of security. In short, God is enough. In the temptation of Jesus, Jesus answers every time with scripture. The scripture He uses points to the fact that God is enough, and His words are true. Jesus did not need to turn stones into bread because, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Jesus found His satisfaction in God’s word and in a life of righteousness.
Medicine #2 Exercise
In Hebrews 5:14, we learn those who are mature have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. We need to have a strong “yes” and a strong “no” muscle. An exercised “yes” muscle helps us say “yes” to things that will be beneficial to our lives. We need this muscle to be strong enough to override our fear of failure, mistakes, standing alone… It needs to trump our feelings of laziness, pride, discouragement, and these lists could go on. While it is important to be able to say “yes” to things that will be beneficial to our lives, it is also important to be able to say “no” to things that would negatively impact us. Those things might be a relationship, a job, societies’ script, a pastime, hurtful messages, anything that holds us back in our faith. We need to be able to say “no, that is not healthy for me. It needs to go.”
Medicine #3 Clear purpose
When we have a clear purpose for our lives, it is easier for us to discern what will help and what will hinder us. Earlier this year, I read the book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. One of the seven habits was “keeping the end in mind.” The book challenges the reader to ponder what they would like to be said about them at the end of their life and write a mission statement based on his/her reflection. Throughout the life of Jesus, He keeps a clear mission, and nothing gets in the way of it. Several times in the Bible, Paul mentions a mark that he is striving for. In Philippians 3:13-14 Paul writes,
“Brethren I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to the things that are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Do you know your mission? Do you have a prize you are striving for?
Medicine #4 A Princess Court
In our book, Princess Training, we talk about having a strong Princess Court comprised of mentors and Christian friends. We need people in our life who will hold us accountable. These people lovingly make sure we act according to knowledge, exercise our muscles, and keep on track. All the while, they show us grace and help pick us up when we fall.
Medicine #5 Grace
Even in our very best attempts, we will at times fall. During these times we need to reach for and rely on the grace that is offered to us. Grace gives us a way out. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul talks about being unworthy of being an apostle because he persecuted the Church. He then states in verse 10,
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
The grace God offered Paul helped him go from persecutor to recruiter.
Medicine #6 Prayer
In the moments where we are trying to ward off a struggle, prayer helps us get our mind off the struggle and focused back on God. We also gain the help of our creator to remain strong.
Side-Effects
I hope these medicines are helpful to you in warding off struggle. Oh, I almost forgot to warn you about the side-effects. After David faced his struggle with Bathsheba, he prayed that God would give him a clean heart, right spirit, restored joy, and support. He then states the result of these things,
“Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you” (Psalm 51:12, ESV).
When we overcome our case of struggles, we live a more fulfilled life and lead people to the true physician. (Click to Tweet)
Are you trying to overcome a case of struggle? Check out this free resource to help you diagnose your struggle and figure out the doses of medicine you need. This resource has prompts and journal sections to assist you in thinking through why you struggle and some assets you have to fight off the struggle. (If you have not joined our insider club for the resource library click here.
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