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Wrestling with Jesus
What is your personal relationship like with Christ?
By Lesli White
What is your relationship like with Jesus?
If it’s broken, how do you repair it?
This is a question
many of us ask ourselves regularly not only when we’re lost, but also when we
are saved.
Feeling lost or
struggling on your faith journey isn’t something to feel bad about, as we have
all lost our way, even when saved.
Even when we’re wrestling
with Jesus, God wants us to remain faithful in Christ, recognize that
everything happens for a reason and is a part of God’s Will.
Sometimes difficulties
and crisis are used by the Lord to bring us closer and to develop intimacy with
Him.
The more you grow in
Christ, the less questions you will have and the more you will trust in God.
This won’t happen
overnight. It’s an everyday process.
Here are seven signs
you’re wrestling with Jesus.
You’re Confused About Your Purpose
When you’re struggling with Jesus,
there is often great confusion about spiritual direction.
One of the Enemy’s greatest desires is to get a believer out of
destiny and separated from Jesus. This all begins by confusing you.
The knowledge of God’s Will and purpose for your life is superior
to the world’s false and speculative knowledge and wisdom.
This is the most important fact that every Christian must get hold
of.
There is a dangerous chain reaction that is taking place in the
thinking today of many Christians.
The ultimate cause of most problems in the Christian life is the
failure to have knowledge of God’s Will.
The reason we are so lost is because we neglect His ordained
meanings of knowing His Will.
This happens because we believe that something else is superior to
God’s ordained way when the truth is, nothing is superior to God’s ordained
way.
You Lack Spiritual Passion
Have you ever found yourself wishing
that you could be more zealous or passionate for Jesus?
You might be unsatisfied with your lack of growth in your faith.
Lacking spiritual passion is a sign that you’re wrestling with
Jesus.
When you’re struggling with Him, it’s easy for the Enemy to swoop
in and steal your tenacity for things of God.
During these periods, our prayer life seems stalled.
Our commitment is tested and it can feel like we can’t push
through.
When we’re separated from Jesus, you feel as though you are just
going through the motions as opposed to feeling connected to.
You’re Extremely Frustrated
When you’re wrestling with Jesus, it’s
easy to become extremely frustrated with Him.
During these periods, the Enemy uses a variety of circumstances to
oppress the mind and bring great frustration.
A person who is wrestling with Jesus finds himself on edge and
anxious.
Getting over your anger with Him is really about straightening out
what you expect from Him.
If we think of the Lord as our personal fairy and think that He
will grant everything on our wish list and all will be perfect in our lives,
you’ll be mad at Him every time things go wrong.
Having faith in Jesus is not insurance against hardships, but it
is a way to endure.
You Are Drawn Back Towards Old Bondages
When you find yourself in a broken
relationship with Jesus, it’s easy to be pulled back towards negative cycles
that you broke free from.
During these periods, you are extremely vulnerable to spiritual
attack as the Enemy wants to enslave you once again in the same old bondages.
If he can discourage you enough that you give into sin that you
were free from, you are more likely to spiral down into deeper defeat.
The only way to truly break free from these bondages is to first
admit that you have a problem; that you’re in bondage, and then admit that it
is your choice to be in bondage, just as it is your choice to be free.
You Question
Jesus
Many Christians believe that if you
question the Bible, Jesus’ direction or even God Himself, it is a sign of
blasphemy or disbelief, but it really goes back to motive.
Why are you questioning Jesus on a particular issue, doctrine or
direction?
If we question Jesus because we desperately want to know the
answers and we truly want to know who our Lord is so that we can see the light
in the midst of our confusion that is one thing.
If it is coming from a prideful heart that says ‘I know better than
God’ then we are wrong to question.
If it is because we are trying to stall our obedience to the Lord,
it is wrong to question.
If we question God’s authority, then that too is incorrect
behavior on our end.
You’re Exhausted All the Time
When you’re wrestling with Jesus, it
will have not only an impact on your spiritual well-being, but also on your
physical well-being.
You may feel unusually sluggish and tired.
While this can be a result of natural problems, lack of sleep or
health problems, it can also be a result of prolonged spiritual battles and
separation from Jesus.
You may also be suffering from spiritual fatigue.
This means that your soul is exhausted, not just your body.
It is a sign that we have become separated not only from Jesus,
but also from ourselves somewhere along the way.
At these points, we need to reconnect.
You Question Your Faith
One of the biggest challenges we face
on our spiritual journey is completely trusting God’s Will, especially when our
faith is being tested.
A huge sign that you’re wrestling with Jesus is when you begin to
question your faith.
This is often a result of our disappointment in our lives based on
our experiences and expectations.
While we can’t avoid disappointment, we are told through Scripture
to trust in Jesus and His promises for us.
If you are dealing with a disappointment right now, remember that
you can rely on Jesus.
When we recognize God’s goodness, even in our daily struggles and
disappointments, then we can really know God.
No matter what kind of
Christian activities you participate in and no matter what kind of “religious”
things you do, what is your personal relationship to Christ?
This is the key to
growing in Christ and overcoming brokenness with Him.
The choice of choosing
Jesus and wanting a relationship with Him is all our own.
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