The struggle continues, and most people would be quick to say – but I ask this question – does it have to?

Life can be simple, and how we experience life points to how we respond to situations and the steps we take to make our life the best it can be.

My husband either calls or sends me a text during the day to ask me how I’m feeling. On many occasions (and sometimes I do), I want to respond that I am not in the best of moods. I quickly catch myself and remind myself that my words and thoughts impact my situation and how I see life. So most times I will say I am good even when I feel less than my ideal self. Saying I am good, I remind myself that God wants me good at all times. Some may ask if that is not being phony, playing the hypocrite, etc. I say it is not. I say it is exercising our God-given rights to live above our current reality and create the reality that we do want to live. I say speaking positive words will impact us and will make our struggle not seem like one.

When people express concern about us, and we respond with a “woe be unto me” mentality, we are yearning for attention and others to join in our “pity party.” Do not get me wrong; there are times when people genuinely need a shoulder to cry on and need someone to set them straight amidst the confusion that exists in their hearts and their minds. I can only hope that they will seek persons who can help them and persons who will pull them out of the darkness/struggle and not add to it. I know you know what I am speaking about here.

God tells us if we have a struggle in any area of our life, he will provide us with what we need to get over what we deem as a struggle—read below:

• If we need the wisdom to sift through the struggles in our lives: James 1:5 –If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
• If we need a shoulder to lean on: Luke 12:7 indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
• If we are feeling spiritually weak, read Philippians 4:13, I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
• Feeling fear: Hebrews 13:6 so we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
• Feeling lack: Deuteronomy 28, if you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.

I could go on and on, but I think the big picture is clear. We have only to look to God, and His words will get us through our struggle. He is the best and should be the only resort. The struggle does not have to continue; that may have been a secret before, but it is no longer. Let us stop saying our struggle continues and say, with all the assuredness that Christ gave us when he died on the cross, that we are now free. Colossians 1:13 tells us –  For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves…

He has brought us into the light. The darkness contains the struggle, and we are no longer a part of that darkness; we are of the light. So let us live knowing that.