I don't know about you, but I have lots of struggles in my life. I struggle with relationships, priorities, finances, rejection, temptation and more. This morning in my daily Bible reading God reminded me that I am not alone in my struggles.
Of course, I know that the people around me struggle. I see people every day on the news struggling. I see people every day in my neighborhood struggling. I see my friends and family every day struggling. Life is just like that; full of struggles.
But in my daily Bible reading this morning, I saw that Jesus struggled too. I never really thought about Jesus struggling.....after all He is God, right (John 1:1)? Right.....but He was also man, and man struggles (John 1:14).
Jesus struggled with His family.....Mark 3:21 tell us, "Then Jesus entered a house and again a crowd gathered, so that He and his disciples were not even able to eat. When His family heard about this, they went to take charge of Him, for they said, 'He is out of His mind.' Who was closer to Jesus than His family? He struggled with them.
Jesus struggled with the teachers of the law.....Mark 3:22 tells us, "And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, 'He is possessed by Beelzebub!'" Who should have supported Jesus more in His ministry but the teachers of the law? He struggled with them.
Jesus struggled with the very people He served. John 6:66 tells us, "On hearing it, many of the disciples said, 'This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?' Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, 'Does this offend you?'.....From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him." Who was closer to Jesus than His disciples? He struggled with them.
Jesus struggled with temptation. Matthew 4:1 tells us, "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." Jesus struggled.
Are you struggling? Are you struggling with family? Are you struggling with church? Are you struggling with people you are trying to serve? Are you struggling with finances? Are you struggling with temptation? Are you just plain old struggling?
If the answer to that questions is, "Yes, I am struggling!".....then you are in good company.....in the company of Jesus; the Jesus who struggled with family, friends, relationships, finances, temptation and more!
This Jesus, our Savior who struggled, knows your struggle.....He struggled with the same things that you are struggling with. He knows what it's like to struggle. Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin."
Jesus went to the Father when He struggled ("Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Luke 5:16). Jesus saw victory over His struggles. You can have that same victory over your struggles! I encourage you to go through Jesus to the Father.
I encourage you to take your struggles to the cross and lay them at the feet of Jesus. Cry out to Him, He understands and He wants to walk with you through your struggles. I Peter 5:7 says, "Cast your cares on Him because He cares for You!" Don't struggle alone.....go to The Word and receive the comfort that God wants to give you. Isaiah 66:13b says, "As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you."
Let Jesus comfort you in your struggles. Let Jesus care for you. Let Jesus.......He's big enough!
Encouraging You In Christ!
All Praise, Honor and Glory To God!
