What Does it Mean To Struggle Well?

As I look back through my life I recall many different chapters marked by hardships, difficulties, sufferings, joys, sadness, fellowships, thankfulness, peace, and many other things. 

There are times where I would downplay the difficulties in my life in order to not relive the emotions and physical pain that accompany `it. Averting my attention to focus on other people and/or even minimizing my issues as a means to “sacrifice for Christ ''. Honestly, all my efforts were more dependent on myself. I am ashamed to admit that I would use serving others as a means of escaping pain, hurt, frustration, exposure, and vulnerability. All the while, not doing the one thing I should have been doing and that is to be dependent on God, satisfied with Him through all circumstances. I should have been vulnerable in order for me to do God’s will and be joyfully obedient, while finding satisfaction in God through His Word, receiving comfort/conviction by the Holy Spirit, and being given a peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4.7).

Admittedly, I was trying to use the gifts that God gave me in order to escape from Him. As a result, delaying God from properly healing me from pain, hurt, and frustration. There have been two major concepts (by God’s grace) that I continue to learn: 1. Without God, I have nothing, and 2. With Him I have everything i.e.; everything is found in Him, and he is sufficient for all my needs (John 1:1-5, 2 Cor. 12:9-10).  

There are two foundations which formed my thoughts while I went through these life experiences and continue to do so. The first one was inwardly focused deriving my solution to these life experiences from my own abilities, experiences, knowledge, and comprehension. This foundation was proving to fail. I learned to replace this foundation by depending on the Word of the Living God, though these things are present, which is the solution. Both foundations start with an inward reflection, the source of the solution has changed.

You may be asking what’s the point of all this. My mission is simple. With Christ, I want you to Struggle Well. Although the message may be simple, the implication is very deep and powerful. From my life experiences from emotional to physical stress, you might be able to relate to struggling to do good. Attempting to honor your Father in heaven so that He may be pleased with you. As a believer, who put his faith in Christ, I would ask questions at times: am I forgiven or accepted? Is He pleased with my actions and, above all else, does He love me? May the Words of the Living God bring comfort to you “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6). Now I know what you're probably thinking.…..what the heck does that mean and that sounds cool in all but I don't get it. Well, let me start by first trying to define what the words mean. 

The word “Struggle” is most commonly defined as a noun as a very difficult task or a determined effort under difficulties. Associated with that is the verb that can be defined as to “strive to achieve or attain something in the face of difficulty or Resistance. The word ``Well” is defined as “a good or Satisfactory way, a way that is appropriate to the facts, or with praise/approval. Although these definitions provide a good framework to the idea of “Struggle Well”  I would argue that the scripture provides a way better, profound, and deeper, understanding of both words that not only help clearly understand it but also “Renew our Minds” (Rom. 12:2) that also change our hearts making us want to meditate on the Word of the Living God as it is said in Psalms 1 and with that, we would be joyfully obedient to Him. Oh, there is so much to write and so much to delight in God. We will explore this idea in Part 2 titled “The Gifts to a Suffering Servant .”