God Fights For UsMuestra

Three Types of Struggles in Life

Have you found yourself going through periods when it seems that everything and everybody is against you? Undoubtedly you have. We all do. Can you remember a time when you desperately asked for help, and a friend or a parent showed up and fought for you? I am sure you do.

In our spiritual walk, we encounter different types of difficulties. These can be inconveniences, challenges, or battles. First, let us consider what an inconvenience is. This is when our luxuries and comfort get pushed away. For example: “This line is so long, why can’t they open another register?” Or, “Why can’t the plumber come on Tuesday? I’ll have to cancel my nail appointment.” Do you see yourself here? These are not battles, nor challenges. They are mere inconveniences. 

Challenges are different. They have to do with difficulties in marriage or parenting. When at our jobs we encounter incompetent people that do nothing, and we end up doing all their work. When expensive bills arrive and you know that you have difficult months ahead. These are challenges. You need time to find the answer to the problem, and the solution may require effort, discipline, and work. But still, you can find a solution to a challenge and solve it yourself.

Battles are completely different. When you face grief, depression, anxiety, financial debt, cancer, or a relationship crisis, you are in a battle. You cannot solve this problem on your own. You may not have the necessary skills to do so. You are either going to move forward or backward. You win or you lose. You need God’s power; you need His intervention to go ahead. You cannot do it by yourself. 

Joshua found himself in a battle. To win the battle, he needed God. He could not face five enemies and their armies with just one army of his own. He needed a miracle! God did three things for Joshua and the Israelites: He confused the enemy, He threw hailstones from the sky, and He made the Sun stand still in the sky until the Israelites could defeat their enemies. Joshua chapter 10 closes verse 14 saying, “Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!” 

I wonder what your battle is. What is your impossible? It may look like you are surrounded and there is no humanly possible way to address the matter. Expect a miracle.

Thought of the Day

Jesus fought our battles on the cross. We can cast our cares on Him; He cares for us!