Christian Living: Don't Let Your Struggle Become Your Identity

Dysfunctional Family. Domestic Violence. Loneliness. Difficult friendships and/or romantic relationships. Financial distress. Undiscovered purpose. Lack of direction. Depression. Smoking. Pornography. Cutting. Laziness. What is your struggle? Many of us have at least one, if not more. Your struggles may have been picked up by associating with the wrong crowd. Your struggles may have been passed down through generations (that generational curse can do some serious damage). At the end of the day, you have them. They keep you up at night. They're the first words to pop into your mind's conversation bubble in the morning. When they go unchecked and unresolved, they plague you for years on end. They can rob you of your peace, happiness, joy and seeing the beauty that God and life have to offer. How do you get a grip? How do you bring an end to the constant state of struggle?

1. Identify it for what it is. 

Call a spade a spade. Don't continue to live in the denial. If you are dealing with people who have hurt you deeply and have shown no intentions to change, call it out for what it is. If you find yourself gravitating toward a cigarette after a stressful day at work, call it out. You shouldn't need toxic fumes that can destroy your body in order to get over something life throws at you. Call that spade a spade. The sooner you are honest with yourself about what your struggle is, the sooner you can deal and heal!

2. Ask God for help, healing, resolve. 

God knows the beginning to the end. He knows where your struggle started and why it's stayed with you for as long as it has. He knows the diamonds you can mine out of the coal. What the enemy intended for evil, God can use for His glory. Lay your weakness at His feet in prayer. Be in your Word and allow God to speak to you and give you strength through the Bible. A lot of times, we look at the Bible as just a book. The Bible has life-changing information if we would just simply open it up and read it. When you pray and seek God about a certain struggle you are facing, He will give you peace and clarity about how to deal with it. 

3. If necessary, seek professional help. 

God has equipped us with ability to get in contact with community. Community is very important when you are seeking help with a struggle. A mentor, physician, accountability partner, rehab specialist, minister, counselor, or a financial adviser are examples of people to reach out to depending on your struggle. There are people equipped to help you fight the battles life throws at you. It could be as simple as having someone to help you create a plan so that you lose the weight or a positive diversiona so that you don't pick up the phone when that ex calls. You need a plan to keep you focused and bring about change but you also need people to help be your support system. 

Whatever it is that is plaguing your mind, heart and/or spirit, follow this steps and you will see a change. Don't let your struggle become your identity. 

God bless you. 

-dani