The Struggle is Real

“The struggle is real.”  The other day in my quest to help my family eat healthier meals I tried to whip up some chicken and veggies for dinner as we were rushing to get out the door for swim lessons and the baby was screaming for food.  Dinner ended up pretty terrible as my 6-year old gently told me “Mommy, I can’t really chew this chicken.” I ended up letting them toss the rest of their food as we scrambled to the car.  On the way to swim we were notified of a weather cancellation, and I ended up grabbing Taco Bell as our second dinner.  So much for healthy eating.  Mom fail. The struggle is real.

As I played this scenario over in my head laughing, it made me think about this phrase a little more.  We hear it a lot these days.  It’s a common little phrase, often used lightly to express some kind of mishap or frustration.  While we often laugh at the story told, the truth of the matter is that the struggle IS real.  There is actually a real battle that is taking place in our world, in our homes, in our minds, in our souls. There is a war raging all around us; and unfortunately, we mistakenly aim our battle weapons at the people around us: co-workers, employers, spouses, friends, parents, children.  On top of all of this, I think sometimes the hardest struggle we face is the struggle we have within ourselves.

We tell ourselves we are going to trust God with our finances – until we see the bank account running low and we start to question. We pray in the morning for patience and kindness declaring “I WILL NOT YELL AT MY KIDS TODAY” only to be interrupted mid-prayer by our kids, and we end up shouting shout at them to “Go away.  Mommy is praying!”  We are determined to not let anxiety rule the day, but then we hear the latest news story and peace gives way to fear.  Paul felt this way.  He basically says: “I just don’t get it!  The good I want to do, I don’t do; and the bad stuff I don’t want to do, I end up doing anyway.  The struggle is real.  Apostle fail.”  Don’t believe me?  Read if for yourself. (emphasis mine)

¹⁵ For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. […] ¹⁷ So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. ¹⁹ For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. ²⁰ But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. ²¹ I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. ²² For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, ²³ but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!…

Whoa.  Talk about “the struggle is real.”  The war is raging.  The battle ensues.  As believers, it is easy to get caught up in the legality of doing right, checking the boxes, crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s.  Yes, we are to be the salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16).  Yes, faith without works is dead (James 2:14).  Yes, we are supposed to display the fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22). Yes, we are to fight the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12).  I really do love God.  I really do love my family.  I really do want to be peaceful, and joyful, and kind, and patient. I really do want to trust God with my finances. I really do want to make good decisions and use my time wisely and teach my children about the love of Jesus. It’s just so hard.  My spirit and my flesh are just not on the same page!

To be honest with you, most of my life it hasn’t been the major life decisions that I’ve struggled with.  Usually when faced with a big decision or life change (college, career, job loss, husband, moving, having kids) I give it to God, bathe it in prayer, and move forward with peace and confidence.  However, it’s the day-to-day decisions where I find myself at war.

Do I play with the baby or wash the dishes?

Do I use nap time to clean the house, do my devotions, or exercise?

Do I retaliate in defense or keep my mouth shut?

Do I give in to letting the kids have candy or do I give them a carrot stick?

Do I stand my ground or let it go?

Do I spend the money on ___, or is it a waste and unnecessary?

There are SOOOOOO many decisions that we as moms – that we as humans – make on a daily basis.  How can we possibly make all of the right ones all of the time that will bring glory to God?

Well here’s the thing.  We can’t.  Not on our own anyway.  Over the last year and a half our pastor has been preaching on the book of Romans, and this last Sunday we finished the last 3 verses.  In the preceding 16 chapters Paul shares the gospel of Jesus Christ, explains that it is for all people and all nations (Jew and Gentile alike), and that it compels (not obligates) us to live our lives for the glory of the Lord.  He then explains what that all looks like in practical terms.  He concludes with this: (emphasis mine)

²⁵ Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages ²⁶ but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— ²⁷ to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Who is able? God is able. (vs 25) To do what?  To bring about the obedience of faith (vs 26).  How?  Through JESUS! (27). Look again at Romans 7.  Paul answered his own question about who would set him free from the war inside himself.  “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

Hello!?!?!?! Jesus has set us free!  The weight of getting it right all the time is not on our shoulders. He is able to give us the strength we need to obey Him out of faith because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  We are a new creation.  We have been set free. We don’t HAVE to obey Jesus.  We GET to obey Jesus.  He is God, and He brings glory to Himself through His mere existence. So cease striving. Rest in Him.

“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

“[…] you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29b-30)

“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  (Psalm 46:10)

If He has made us free, why do we try to enslave ourselves again?  Why do we return to bondage and strife and struggle?   We are free to live and worship and rest in Him.  We are welcomed to draw near and sit at the feet of Jesus.  Yes, there is a war.  Yes, there are battles.  and Yes, the struggle is real.

“but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Glory to God.