Day 24 - With God, do Believers Struggle?

Updated: Feb 9

Believers struggle; it is the salt of our lives.

We must have salt within ourselves to have any hope of finding real peace with ourselves and others. The struggles are needed to recognize good and to be thankful. Just as salt flavors and preserves food, the trials of life that "salt" us become the basis of our understanding, gratitude, and prayer. Humanity's problems have been throughout history, starting in the Garden of Eden. It seems evident that, being human and imperfect, we must have trials to understand how prosperous our existence is.

None of us want to struggle. Yet we will. It is in how you meet the trials that your experiences are made. You may cry, but it is ok. You may grow angry, but that is ok. As humans, we have emotional responses, which is to be expected. The challenge is in what you do to work through the struggle. Will the battle overwhelm and stop you, or will you do your best and move through the trial, learning as you go? Life is sometimes seemingly unbearable, but it is not if you hold your hand and heart out to Jesus. Look at the difficulties Jesus went through; he persevered. When you feel you cannot go on, remember Jesus and consider what he would want you to do. He is your example; he is the King of Perseverance. You can look to no better source for inspiration. Yes, believers struggle, but with the struggle, we grow more like Christ and recognize God so much easier.

Prayer:

Father, I pray with gratitude for the struggles and the salt in my life. I ask you to continue to help me recognize my blessings and understand that they outnumber many other people's experiences. I don't know why, but I am grateful.

My life is so full of bounty and experiences that I am lost in wonder. When I stop thinking of all you have done, I allow myself to err, and while I know you are not expecting my constant thanks, I want to thank you continuously and be more aware of the gifts in my life. I have been blessed in many ways, yet I often fail to see the blessings, especially those within my heart, rather than seen by my eyes. It is clear that you love me and have guided me since I was too young to understand what was happening in my life. Today, I am grateful for the glimpses of understanding you enable me to see, and I look forward to further understanding as the picture of my life becomes more evident.

I weep joyfully to see your magnificence and kneel before you in humility. Continue to bless me and all I love and know, Lord. But, first, please gift all believers with a touch of the understanding you enabled me to see today, for this understanding will change our world. Jesus, you touch and show us the way today and every day. I thank you. Amen