When I fully accepted God into my life again, I expected things to improve dramatically. In many ways, I was right: I graduated from college, overcame depression, got a new job, and was accepted into pharmacy school. But in other ways, I was wrong. I wasn’t prepared for the mental and spiritual battles that come with surrendering your life to God. From struggling to break bad habits and addictions to feeling like God isn’t listening during times of suffering, the journey can be difficult. The hardest part, however, has been learning to obey God consistently.
I’ve faced all these struggles and continue to do so. But through it all, I’ve learned to give myself grace on this journey. God sees me trying, and I know He extends His grace because He understands that we, as humans, make mistakes. Though I don’t deserve it, His grace gives me the courage to try again. As Proverbs 24:16 says, “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.” Setbacks will come, but as long as your heart is genuine, God will forgive you and extend His grace. So, keep trying until you get it right!
Personally, when I fall into sin and repeat bad habits, I tend to distance myself from God, thinking He must be angry with me. The more I pull away, the more miserable I become—and that’s exactly what the enemy wants. The enemy tries to convince you that God won’t forgive you. But this couldn’t be further from the truth! When we sin, God wants us to repent and come back to Him. He always welcomes us with open arms, every single time. After all, He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to save us. His love for us is unconditional, and nothing can deter it.
Another major challenge is spiritual warfare. I used to hear people talk about it, but I didn’t understand how intense it could be until I went through it myself. My experience with spiritual warfare started in 2023 when I became much closer to God. The closer you get to God, the more intense the spiritual battles become. There were moments when I felt like giving up, questioning why I had to endure such hardships. But I eventually realized it was because I had upset the enemy. When I was living a worldly life, the devil wasn’t concerned with me. But as soon as I committed to walking with the Lord, the attacks began. And while the enemy might be angry, I don’t care—he is weak, and my God will protect me. Spiritual warfare is a battle of the mind, and we must never let the devil win. Obedience to God and patience in the face of trials will lead to blessings and, ultimately, eternal life.
Obedience is tough, but it’s crucial in our walk with Christ. It protects and guides us. My mom introduced me to Proverbs 3:5-6 when I was 16: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” The older I get, the more I see how true and powerful this verse is. When we disobey and try to take control of our own lives, we end up dissatisfied with the results. But God knows what’s best for us, and following His instructions brings both joy and blessings.
Though I’ve talked about the struggles of being a Christian, they pale in comparison to the blessings. I wouldn’t trade my relationship with God for anything. Yes, it’s hard at times, but the peace, joy, and purpose I’ve found in Christ far outweigh the difficulties. When you give your worries, doubts, and life over to God, He takes care of everything. I’ve experienced a peace that the world could never provide. Obeying His commands protects me from worldly heartache and transforms my heart. I am truly a new person, reflecting more of His patience, love, grace, and compassion. God is always with me; I talk to Him daily, even outside of prayer. He’s truly my best friend—always dependable, always flawless in His faithfulness.
You are not alone in your walk with Christ. The Bible is filled with stories of people facing similar challenges, and the consistent theme is that God never abandons His people. He won’t abandon you, either. God loves you more than you can imagine. Picking up your cross daily is challenging, but in the end, it’s worth every struggle.