The Other Side of the Struggle
During times of struggle, questions like these often find their way into our hearts and minds: "Is it always gonna be like this? Will I ever get to the other side? Is there even another side? And if there is , will it be all that I dreamed of? If it isn’t, then what? But if it is..."
I often find myself trapped in situations where I struggle to see “the silver lining”. I tend to live in that realm for a long time, wondering when or if I’m ever going to get out. It usually starts out with me being frustrated with the struggle. It then comes to a point where I get comfortable with it; with where I am.
Seeing all these promises that God says he has for me but not knowing how to access them. Also, seeing God get other persons out of tight spots but then wondering why “the same doesn’t apply to me”.
Does one size really does fit all?
I get so used to things not working out that I just can’t see how they can get better. And the struggle clouds my vision so much that I can’t see the other side. We’ve been months into this worldwide pandemic, not knowing how much longer it will last. But also, not knowing how much longer we can hold out. Not sure if things will ever get better, we hit a slump, for some of us our fight may be beginning to fade and we are on the brink of conceding.
Has God abandoned us?
Is he really for us and not against us as His word “claims”? Recently, I encountered a problem; nothing major when looking at the grand scheme of things, as I know others go through far worse struggles than this. But the reality was that, it left me upset with God. I felt betrayed and I thought I’d every right to be.
Have you ever felt betrayed by God?
“God I thought you would come through for me there, but you really let me down”. Someone close to me shared something with me when I confided in her regarding that particular struggle. And it made me wonder, did Jesus feel betrayed by God, His father when he had to die on the cross? My reasoning behind this is that just before He died, Jesus cried out,
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” - Matthew 27:46
The word forsaken means to abandon. While it would be unrealistic to compare my struggle to Jesus’, it still paints the picture I’m trying to portray. It’s okay to question God and his plans, it’s okay to be frustrated.
You can still have great faith even in the midst of frustration; even in the midst of your struggle.
We don’t always get to choose our struggles but we can choose to trust God’s will for our lives. Jesus surely wasn’t looking forward to dying on the cross. It wouldn’t have been at the top of his to do list. He was actually hoping there was another way. But he trusted God’s will. In Matthew 26:39, Jesus says,
“My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will”.
He even repeats it again in verse 42. I don’t like this God, I certainly didn’t choose this, but I trust you.
Simple yet so so challenging! I trust that there is another side and that you’ll take me there. I trust that it is filled with all God has promised. This applies to you, and to me. God really has good intentions towards us.
The story ends with Jesus dying and being resurrected.
Related Post: Why Did It Have To Be The Cross?
But the other side of His struggle is that we no longer have to live in sin, shame or condemnation, rather we get to have a personal relationship with Jesus as He views us through the lens of His forgiveness, love and grace. And that’s the side that we can’t always see right then and there. But it exists! And it’s the side that God ultimately wants us to get to. He desires to reveal to us that there is a purpose to our struggle; to our pain. But it’s going to take a whole lot of persevering and a whole lot of trusting.
There won’t always be an easy way out but God promises us that, “our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us” - Romans 8:18 NIV
Our struggles don’t even come close to the blessing that will be on the other side. And Gods favour will be with you through it all.
James 1:12 reminds us that "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
The word blessed in this context actually means favoured of God. Sometimes you just have to fight through, but one thing will remain, God’s promises will always stand and you will receive His reward on the other side if you don’t give up.