If you’ve recently started following Jesus and things feel harder than before, you are not alone. Many new believers expect that once they say “yes” to Christ, life will become easy and peaceful, but the truth is, faith isn’t always easy, and that’s okay.
When we give our lives to Jesus, we step into a new reality: we become part of God’s Kingdom, but we also enter into a spiritual battle, which many are not aware of. The Bible talks about spiritual warfare, not just in dramatic, movie-like ways, but in everyday challenges. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against … the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Sometimes, the battle looks like doubt and anxiety. Other times, it feels like discouragement, temptation, or even loneliness.
The enemy doesn’t want us to grow closer to God, so he often tries harder to discourage us after we’ve made the decision to follow Christ. That’s why you might feel more pressure, more questions, or even more confusion now, but don’t let this shake your faith. Instead, let it strengthen your foundation of belief.
Jesus Himself never promised an easy road. In fact, in John 16:33, He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” He’s honest about the struggles, but he is also full of hope. He’s with you in every challenge, and He has already won the victory.
God doesn’t expect you to be perfect. He knows we’re human, which means we can be fragile, emotional, and easily worn down. That’s exactly where His strength shines the brightest. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, God tells Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” When we admit that we’re struggling, God can step in with power and peace that we could never create on our own.
Maybe your faith feels messy right now. Maybe you’re trying to pray, but don’t know what to say. Or, you open your Bible and feel more confused than comforted. That’s okay. Faith grows over time. Just like a seed doesn’t become a tree overnight, your spiritual life will take time to grow deep roots.
So, don’t give up. Keep showing up, imperfectly, honestly, and humbly. Surround yourself with other believers who can support and encourage you. Dive into God’s Word, even if you don’t understand it all yet (and side note: you may never understand it 100%, and that’s okay too!). Lastly, pray. Simple prayers like “Help me, God” or “I trust You even when it’s hard” can help you re-center your faith during hard times and days.
Faith isn’t with the absence of struggle. It’s the decision to trust God in the middle of it, and He promises to never leave you. He will always sustain us through those tough seasons.
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