The Struggle Is Real

Rough Beginnings

My start into the world wasn't the best. At an early age, I was sick. It wasn't the fun kind of sick, where you get to stay home and play video games. It was the sick that brought pain.  I can't say I remember much but I can recall a few good moments. Most of the story is told from my parents perspectives. In some way, I believe God saved me from remembering. Although, if I am honest, I don't very much like hospitals. 

I still remember the hospital having a unique smell. Even though most hospitals are sterilized to perfection (well I hope at least) you still feel a bit dirty. It's believe it comes from the fear of not knowing what's wrong with you. I remember walking through the halls of the hospital with my parents or playing Nintendo with my brother Ian. Those moments helped me forget how scared we probably all were. I don't think I understood the journey God was taking me on. He definitely made me a fighter.

The God whom allows struggles

I believe in a God. Not a "god" but the one and only God. I believe in God who sent His son to be a sacrifice to cover my sin as well as others. He also promise those who believe eternal life. It's a pretty awesome gig. It's all awesome if you just tell people that part of the deal. After the feel good stuff, you hear things like this in the Bible; "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV). 

If you look the word tribulation is in there. It's a word that I myself seem to forget often. Jesus is saying right here that we will have peace in Him, but we will have trouble. Most people look at that and think, "Oh yes I will be okay when trials come". Yet in reality, this is where we can see what it really means to be a Christian. It's the when everything hits the fan that we can see our true hearts.

I believe that God does things for a purpose. Obviously, being really sick as a child isn't the best way to start off life. Yet because of this event, my parents faith was made stronger. God was showing his ultimate presence in this matter to me, my family, and doctors. Ultimately, I ended up being okay and by God's grace, I've been healthy for 27 years. God allows these hard events in our lives to help define us. It changed my parents. It changed my brother Ian. It changed the doctors. It changed me. I would not be who I am without that part of my life. Although I don't remember much, God still left an impact in my life. I am humbled because in His hands, He allowed me to become a man, get married, and soon to be a father. Through my early trials, through my parents prayers, through the churches prayers, I was healed. 

A Few Weeks Later...

The last few weeks, I have learned to appreciate life. We are to appreciate all parts of life: the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Even suffering or pain is something to appreciate. Life is something God gave so freely to us. I mean the fact that I still get to live is a blessing.

It's easy to become selective as a Christian. It's easy to enjoy the benefits of grace. I still do in many moments of life. I believe James says it best "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4 ESV). 

Every struggle in life isn't God's way of pushing you away, its drawing us closer. We mess up. That's the beauty of grace, He forgives. We will struggle. We will lose jobs, watch friends past away, lose the battle to addiction, etc. Yet in these moments, we are growing. In the struggle, we are loved and God provides. I can say this on multiple accounts. Even as I turn my back, God does not. 

We are blessed with life. We are loved. We are defined in Christ. We are free!


Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”



Jeremiah 34:5-7