Dear Christians: It's Okay to Admit You're Hurting

"You'll pull through this."

"Just tough up, it'll work out."

"Don't lose faith, trust God."

Have you ever been told something along these lines? Have you ever truly struggled with something that shook your heart and threatened to shatter your faith? Have you ever felt like your hope has been locked in a cage in your soul and someone threw away the key?

I'm willing to guess that you have, because I, for one, entirely understand the struggle. Everyone has been hurt, many damaged, and some have believed they are beyond saving. It is easy to look at such people and not imagine that they are Bible-believing Christians.

But, wait, Christians aren't supposed to struggle, right? Aren't we supposed to be living in faith, steadfastly firm in our convictions with God's fire in our hearts? How could we, the Body of Christ, ever have hurting soldiers in our ranks? Friends, I can tell you that unfortunately, that is the case. I know many people who truly love God and seek His face, and yet still struggle in their lives. However, should this really come as a shock?

Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

Sounds to me like we've got a bigger battle then the spat with our next-door neighbors. As Christians, we are not promised an easy life. Nowhere in the Bible does it state that we are commissioned to live cushy lives far away from any confrontation or uncomfortable circumstance. In fact, we are told in the Word that such a situation should be seen as unsurprising.

This is laid out clearly in 1 Peter 4:12, "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing has happened to you;"

Trials WILL come. Difficulty WILL arise. Life will ALWAYS throw a curve-ball at you, and I guarantee that your first response will most likely be to panic and freak out. It's easy to look at the mountain and be overwhelmed by its height. Trust me, I know. I've been in situations where the mountains seem so impossibly tall that speaking to it is the last thing little me would ever consider. Nonetheless, we are told to command it to cast itself into the sea. No, it's not easy, but the life of the Christian was never promised to travel the easy road. We were promised the meaningful one, a road of sacrifice, trials, and unknowns.

In fact, we are told to rejoice. The next verse in 1 Peter 4 states, "But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."

It's okay to admit that you're hurting, that doesn't make you any less strong. When hope is failing, THAT is the time to grab hold of your faith with both hands and refuse to let go. No matter how hard it is to hold on, or even how much you might want to let go, remember Who is with you. If God is for you, who can REALLY stand against you? No-one, and I can tell you from personal experience that this is true. As Christians, we aren't called to struggle in the mighty gale, the winds whipping us to and fro, tearing us apart and rending us useless. No, we are called to fly ABOVE the storm, in the light of the sun.

Sometimes the darkness of the storm can hinder our vision of the light, but we must remember that the light dwells within us, and can never be extinguished. The fire in our veins is not controlled by emotional whims or a torrential downpour of discouragement, though it may try. Despite the storm, God is ALWAYS true and never will abandon us. If you trust Him, I promise you won't regret it. And in order to do so, you must do something that I still am yet trying to learn. You must stop fighting, and allow Him to rescue you. No matter how far you've fallen, how seemingly hopeless you've become...don't lose heart. No matter the trial, if you allow Him, God will take your ashes of brokenness and turn them into pure, clean snow.