The Fractured Saint Project®

In these current times and with the current state of the world, people are focusing on their struggles more and more. The word struggle, however, is as subjective a term as they come. It means different things to different people. Some people use it as a way to describe everyday life, but some of us use the “modern Christianese” definition meaning to over rationalize or even justify our personal flaws or failings. We  Christians sometimes refer to struggle as tribulation or those everyday wars between our spirit and our flesh which are lost more times than not. We all struggle daily in this life whether or not it is a material struggle or an immaterial struggle and nine time out of ten it is both. No one is exempt from this. If you think that you are, I am happy you think so, but that just isn’t reality. People like to sometimes pretend that it doesn’t exist and even go to great lengths to hide it or even make you focus on your own struggles and failings so that you will see theirs. For myself, I struggle daily with the same problems and personal failing that everyone else does whether or not its bills, finances, am I being a good husband or provider for my wife, my job, my struggling business, or my on again off again nicotine addiction, which by the way has been in remission for 15 months now. For some people, the mere act of getting out of bed and facing this life is a struggle. I could put on a facade and pretend that they don’t exist, but I can’t and I won’t. Nobody benefits from deception, especially those looking for others that are facing the same trials that they are. The Lord said that we would all have them, but it is how we deal with them is the difference. How we deal with them is what shows our quality. I once heard someone say that the level of struggle in life is directly proportionate to your level of involvement in it. If you are not struggling, you are not living. Some of us have a tendency to let these struggles overpower the sound mind that the Lord gave us whether it is due to fear or to an all-out inability to face them head on. I am no exception to this. I struggle with over rationalizing and worrying about everything constantly when I know that I shouldn’t because what is going to happen in life will happen regardless of my best efforts to stop it. When the worry bug rears its ugly head, I try to lean on Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV) which says: Be careful for nothing: but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. That doesn’t mean by any stretch of the imagination that Jesus will remove the struggle for you, but it does mean that he will not put more on you than you can handle without providing a way out of it. I think people’s first inclinations seems to be to pray that they do not lose hope, but fail to realize that hope doesn’t come without the struggle or the tribulation. Romans 5:3-4 (KJV) says And not only so, but we glory in tribulation also: Knowing that tribulation worketh patience: And patience experience, and experience hope. There is a natural God-given progression. Struggles and tribulations can be a blessing. It’s all a matter of perspective, how you react to them, and what you learn from them. Let me leave you with this: All of the struggles and tribulations of today are nothing in comparison to what is waiting for those of us that are in Christ Jesus. All we can do is to do our best and endure and know that Jesus is with us every step of the way. Feel free to agree or disagree, but these are just my thoughts. I hope this leaves you with the hope for a brighter tomorrow. Grace and peace to you all. -MikeBacon247

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