In my early and mid-twenties, I thought that if I did enough good deeds and abstained from activities that took my mind off of my faith and purpose, that I would be rewarded with everything that I desired. That is what the bible says, right?
Well, as I'm learning, not exactly.
Reading partial scripture and focusing on verses that aligned with what I wanted is what I did for years. It wasn't until I became intentional about self-searching that I found out I had an entitled mindset.
Believing in God doesn't mean that all of the pain in your life will magically dissolve, or that you will never encounter hardship. Having a spiritual relationship means that you'll have enough faith to sustain you in the storm. Here are a few common misconceptions about being a Christian that I'd like to clear up for the whole class:
Being A Christian Doesn't Exempt You From Struggling
The stronger my faith got, the more obstacles that were thrown my way.
When I was newly planted in my faith, I thought that things were supposed to be easier. I thought that I could maneuver through life without a target on my back. I'd go to church out of routine, bow my head and say a prayer before each meal, and threw out a scripture every now and then as a response to someone's question. That's what I found myself doing in my late teens and early 20s. To my surprise, I began struggling more as I studied the bible consistently on my own and not only open it for weekend church services and midweek bible study.
There were times when I was without a job. There were times that I struggled with having faith that God would show up when I wanted. The truth was, I wanted the victory without having to endure the struggle. I'd find myself asking, was God really listening? Were my problems not important enough to warrant a miracle, or even just a sign of what to do next?
It's easy to forget about the waiting process. Somehow, I thought church attendance and nightly prayers would shield me from it all. I was wrong. Often times, my faith was challenged. In certain moments, my flesh was challenged even more.
Featured image by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
