The Christian walk is difficult because we live in a war zone. A place where Satan wants to be boss, even though he was defeated at Calvary. Satan is determined to make you fall and fail.
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places, Ephesian 6:12.
Christian Walk is a Marathon
The Christians walk is a difficult race. Therefore, run with endurance the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1. However, it is not a race to compete against each other, but a marathon.
It is a race that has a heavenly ending, for ever in the presence of a Holy God. Jesus died to give us the privilege of running that race, but only because He was prepared to pay an horrific price.
The Need to Endure
It is a race of endurance and the determination to continue in the faith, no matter what happens. God has promised to not put us through more than what we can endure,1 Corinthians 1:13. Not that it feels like that.
Where is our focus when we experience times of sorrow, heartache and pain? We need to keep our eyes on our Lord and Saviour, for He promised to never leave you nor forsakes you, Deuteronomy 31:8. All we can do is to throw ourselves on the mercy, love, grace and understanding of God and keep faith in Him.
God, the Great I Am, has promised He is always with us and has a good purpose for what He allows us to go through. Think of what Jesus endured at the Cross. He was mocked, whipped and beaten, then crucified. What Satan designed for destruction God caused to become an eternal victory. We have a High Priest who fully understands what we face, Hebrews 4:15., for He endured far more than we can possibly imagine.
Darkest Days
For over three years the disciples walked with Jesus, saw the miracles, and heard His teaching. The day of Calvary would have been the darkest days of their lives. All their hopes and promises dashed and gone. Their leader hung on a cross, condemned as a criminal of the worst kind. Where was the Kingdom of God now?
His disciples fled. It seemed the Satanic world was the winner. The sun refused to shine and the earth quaked. All was darkness. Yet, the biggest battle was taking place as Jesus crushed the head of the snake, as promised in Genesis 3:15.
Then His body was taken down and laid in a tomb. You all know what it is to stand at the grave of a loved one. The despair and agony that overwhelms you. How can you go on? How do you get past this day? Life will never be the same again. And it won’t. Your life has changed for ever. You have to learn to walk a new path. Run the race in a different way. Your enemy is self-pity and the depths of despair.
God’s Plan
God had a plan from the very beginning and He declares the ending, Isaiah 46:10. Calvary fulfilled a very specific purpose. The Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world, Revelation 13:8. There was no Plan B. It was not an accident, but by Divine purpose. This was what Christ came to earth to do. It was God’s plan before the act of creation.
The teaching and all the miracles were just an introduction. The mission was to pay the price for our sin on Calvary. He alone could pay the price for us to have eternal life. He alone could clean up our sinful life and reconnect man to God.
In our darkest hours God has a purpose, even though we cannot see it. If we stay faithful, we will know God in a way we could not find any other way. The Hebrew writer calls our trials discipline, Hebrews 12:5. All humanity receives God’s grace and mercy, but only His children receive His discipline to make us more Christlike.
God Uses Everything
God uses everything that happens in our life to teach us His way. For God causes all things to work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose, Romans 8:26.
Trials are tests to get us to learn to trust only Him, for His love for us has no boundaries. He loved us long before we ever loved Him, 1 John 4:19. He knew us when we were in our mother’s womb, Jeremiah 1:5. God desires to lead us into a deep and amazing relationship with Himself. A relationship that will reach on into eternity, for we were created to worship the Creator.
God’s Correction
God corrects us as a parent corrects a child, Hebrews 12:8. As human parents our corrections are not always the right way, but God’s correction is perfect.
They are part of training us to walk in fellowship with Him and only Him, for God’s name is Jealous, Exodus 34:14. He demands first place in our life, so that He can call us sons of God.
Be Encouraged when the Christian Walk is Difficult
Be strong in the Lord, Ephesian 6:10, and of good courage. Set aside everything that holds us back in our race. Where is our central focus? Are the real necessities the things of this world, or the world to come?
There is a promise of the glory to come. Keep your eyes on Jesus and not on the things you endure. God knows what you are going through, no matter how hard the road is. He alone is our comforter and protector.
God’s Training
Our tears fall as God works in our life, but if we will lift our eyes to Jesus, there will come a harvest of sweet fruit. There is a heavenly reward, Philippines 3:14, for the race we run. A reward that lasts for eternity.
No one else can earn your reward, for you have to run the race yourself. Only you can let the Holy Spirit have His way in your life. Like for the pearl of great value, Matthew 13:45, the Holy Spirit works in secret in your life. Run your race well and never give up. God will take you through.
When the Christian Walk is Difficult
God walks through your fiery trials with you, just as He did with Daniel in the lions’ den. Have immovable faith in Him and let your faith grow day by day and keep your eyes on Jesus. God will give you the grace to keep going, even when you stumble and fall.
Be like Paul and say, ‘I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith’, 2 Timothy 4:7. Press on toward the prize of your high calling and hear Jesus say, ‘Well done good and faithful servant’, Matthew 25:23. The end result is well worth the effort to stay in the race and you are never alone.
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