This Faith Walk Ain’t No Cake Walk

I wish I could tell you that since I’ve been saved, I wake up smiling every morning,  that I’m never late for work (Cuz snooze? Who does that, right?),  that I’m nice to everyone ALL the time, that I pray 5 times a day, EVERY day (this list  really could go on and on)….I could tell you all these things actually, but I’d be lying to you. While God is good and He is good ALL the time, I’m not. Praise Him for my best friends grace and mercy. A lot of people have this preconceived notion that being a Christian is synonymous with perfection. And by perfection I mean ALWAYS happy, COMPLETELY trouble-free, bank account on swole, no cussin’, drinkin’, sexin’, clubbin’, cheatin’, cryin’, lyin’, YOU NAME IT! But the true fact of the matter is:

God’s word says that we WILL encounter trouble in this world (John 16:33). Sometimes, we ARE that trouble. Being a Christian does not make you immune to conflict, and it does not mean that you always do right. In fact, the battle against my flesh became that much more difficult when I rededicated my life to Christ. The tests and trials started coming at what seemed like rapid-fire speed. However, because Jesus overcame the world, we are girded with the armor that allows us to maneuver thru the troubles that we are guaranteed to face. Once I became aware of the Holy Spirit working in me, I felt far more obligated to hold myself accountable to it.  Yet and still, It. Is. HARD! BUT it is WORTH IT!

People who are unfamiliar with the plight of the Christian walk sometimes equate being a Christian with a once-a-week encouragement session. While church is definitely a place to be filled when empty, brought high when low, it is much more than that. It’s a place to serve and a place to be fed the Word of God, which we as the church are called to exemplify by word and deed. Don’t get me wrong, this is not to discourage you from following Christ but rather to prepare you for the responsibility that comes with your decision to walk with Jesus. God’s Word says that in order to follow Him we  must take up our crosses daily. That means that the spirit is at war with the flesh every day. And that means we have to make a conscious effort to surrender to the Holy Spirit and kill the flesh every day. Now for me, on any given day that could mean not cussin’ people out in traffic, being cordial to people I don’t really like, fighting the fear of failure and rejection, battling self-esteem issues…this list could go pretty long too. But for every battle there is a peace and joy that truly surpasses all understanding. Ultimately, it’s the peace I have in knowing that I am not walking alone that reminds me: I made the right choice, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.