As Someone Who Has Struggled With Anxiety, I Understand How It Feels to Struggle With Spiritual Growth
As someone who has battled anxiety for much of my life, I know firsthand the heaviness of feeling like you're constantly fighting against something you can't control. There are days when the weight of your own thoughts can feel too much to carry, and it’s easy to feel like you're stuck in a cycle of struggle. This same struggle, I’ve found, often mirrors the challenges we face in our spiritual growth. From trying to live out God’s virtues—love, patience, kindness, humility—to navigating the highs and lows of faith, the journey is anything but simple.
The good news, however, is that the struggle is not only normal, it’s a sign that God is working in us. While it might seem like we’re failing at times, it’s in those very moments that God’s grace steps in to remind us that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Struggling isn’t a failure; it’s part of the refining process that shapes us into the people God has called us to be.
Understanding the Struggle
The Apostle Paul captures this internal tension we all face in Romans 7:18-19 (NASB): “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” Paul’s words are powerful because they reflect the very struggle we face when trying to grow spiritually. We desire to do good, to live according to God’s will, but often find ourselves falling short. This inner battle is part of our humanity, and it is a place where God is often most active.
The struggle is not a sign of spiritual failure—it’s proof that we’re in the process. As believers, we must embrace the struggle, knowing that it’s a part of our transformation into the likeness of Christ.
Perseverance in the Midst of Struggle
As we embark on this year of cultivating virtues like love, patience, kindness, humility, and more, it’s important to recognize that the road will not always be easy. Life is full of challenges—whether it’s the difficulty of choosing joy in hard times or the challenge of loving those who hurt us—but it’s in these struggles that God refines our faith. James 1:2-4 (NASB) encourages us: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
The trials we face aren’t setbacks—they are setups for growth. Every trial is an opportunity to grow stronger in faith and deeper in our relationship with God. Persevering through those moments when we feel we’re struggling is what builds spiritual endurance and transforms us into the people God desires us to be.
The Victory of Perseverance
The beauty of the struggle is that it doesn’t define us; how we respond to it does. The apostle James encourages us to let endurance have its perfect work, knowing that God is shaping our character through each trial. It’s not about being perfect or never failing—it’s about trusting in God’s grace to carry us through. When we keep pressing forward, despite the difficulty, we begin to reflect the love and perseverance of Christ Himself.
As we focus on cultivating the virtues of Christ throughout this year, let’s remember that our struggles aren’t signs of defeat, but opportunities for growth. With each step, even the difficult ones, we are being refined to become more like Him.
A Prayer for Strength in the Struggle
Father God, thank You for Your unending grace and mercy in the midst of our struggles. Help us to persevere when the journey feels hard, and remind us that You are with us every step of the way. Strengthen our hearts and minds as we grow in the virtues You’ve called us to live out. May we lean on Your strength, trust in Your perfect timing, and embrace the struggle as part of our transformation into the likeness of Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As we navigate the struggles of life, whether they’re internal battles like anxiety or external pressures that test our patience and faith, we must remember that these struggles are part of our spiritual growth. God doesn’t expect perfection, but He does call us to persevere. Each time we stumble and rise again, we are being shaped by His grace. Don’t be discouraged by the struggle—embrace it, knowing that it’s in these very moments that God is doing His most beautiful work in you. Keep pressing forward, and trust that the struggle is not in vain; through it, God will bring about His perfect purpose in your life.
