Life is full of problems. People around us are struggling and wrestling with weighty matters, that when we look at them, we can’t imagine having to go through what they are. People all around the world are starving, dying, being consumed by bitterness and hatred. In short, so much pain. When I am in my own struggles, I can often come away with this feeling of guilt.
“What a baby. These friends, family, and people in general are struggling so hard and under a lot of pressure and pain, yet here, all I can think about is my petty problem.”
I feel guilty, and even shamed that I struggle with such insignificant things. Why should I be complaining? People always say, it could be so much worse. But, to be honest, I kind of felt that guilt lift. Not that we should complain, but we are all in our own journeys. They don’t all look the same and the bible makes it clear that each of us has our cross to bear and our trial to endure. It won’t look like the next persons, but it is still a struggle and it is okay to wrestle with that.

⁶In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ~ 1 Peter 1:6-7

We are all struggling with something. It may be huge, it may be small, but it is still something that is helping us grow, and it is still something that is hard. One of my loved ones didn’t die, but I do struggle with having a gentle spirit at times. Is it all the time? No, but it feels like it can be such a struggle.
Trials and tribulations don’t have to be huge things.
Tribulation: A cause of great trouble or suffering.
Trial: a person, experience, or situation that tests a persons endurance or forbearance.
I could name a lot of things that test my endurance and forbearance. A messy room, siblings leaving a mess behind, someone using something precious to me without asking first and then not taking care of it. While these sound petty, even to myself, they are still testing me and strengthening me. I even now see improvement in my life. I am not as impatient as I was 3 years ago, but I still have a long way to go. These “trials” are in our life for a reason. God is using these daily aggravations and struggles to refine me and make me stronger and more like Him.
This next verse is a huge encouragement to me.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  ~John 16:33

We don’t have to live in our struggles. We can overcome them. Christ has overcome the world and the enemy that daily seeks to drag us down. While the struggles may seem overwhelming at times and that we will be overcome by them, that is not the truth. Stand in His strength. Pray for forbearance and courage and go into each new day with a heart that sees these trials as a way to becoming more like Christ.
Do you feel like your struggles are insignificant? What is something that has given you strength and courage?
By God’s Grace,
Victoria