A Letter

I have this friend who's really struggling. Not just "Life is kind of hard right now" struggling, but "Is life even worth it?" struggling. Painful strife in the depths of the soul. I feel utterly helpless in knowing how to serve and uplift in the best way. So here's a letter to my friend, in an effort to encourage and point to Christ. I hope that, if you're in a hard place right now, God accomplishes the same for you.


Dear friend,

I should start out by admitting that I really don't know what to say. You've heard encouragement and words of love from so many people, why do I think my words will be what you need? There's no earthly reason why they should, so I'm relying on God to give me the right words and to touch and change your heart. If He's not in it, there's really no point. So here goes:

Friend, I know that you feel stuck. You feel like you're in a bog, your feet heavy and stuck in the mire of your own mistakes, stuck behind a boulder that blocks the path you're supposed to be walking. No matter how hard you try, you just can't manage to lift your feet above the filth and place them on solid ground. No matter how fiercely you struggle, you can't seem to get your head above the fog and find the clean, bright air above. Don't worry - God has made the ground level and has loosened the boulders of sin and idols. There's nothing in your way, and there's nothing to fear. When you feel stuck, you're not. Christ is your Rescuer, and He's always with you.

Friend, I know that you're weary of making the same mistakes. You think that when you fall, you let people down, that they're disappointed with you. You think they get tired of hearing you share your heart and your pain and your struggle. Believe me, they aren't. Your fighting gives them hope, and courage. Your failings and desire to change are powerful testaments to God's grace through the gospel of Christ. And when you share your struggle, instead of hiding away, it blesses all those who hear.

Friend, you think that when you fall, you let God down. Here's some news: God isn't surprised by any of your sin. He knew about it all before you were born, before you were created, before the world was created. And He still chose to create you. He made you, He loves you, and, because you're in Christ, He is totally pleased with you. He is genuinely delighted in you.

You know that feeling you get when you hold a baby? That feeling of "Oh my goodness. I love this baby! No matter what she does, I love her, just because she is who she is." That's how God feels about you. He gets excited about you. Even when you fail and feel ashamed in your failures, God loves you.

Friend, I know that you are ashamed of yourself. You feel that you should have it figured out by now. You've been in the struggle for so long, you should have learned your lesson and moved on by now. You're right. You should have. But there is grace for that. Yes, fight sin. But don't hold on to the guilt of past mistakes! It's over! God has forgiven you - you have no right to withhold forgiveness from yourself. Let go of shame and regrets - Christ has already carried the weight of them.

Friend, you need to realize that you are dearly loved. By many people. You may not believe it, but it's true, and you need those relationships (So stop running away from them!).

Ultimately, however, earthly relationships will never satisfy you or make you whole. The only relationship that can soul-satisfy and heart-heal is your relationship with Jesus. He is the Lover of your soul and the only Source of true delight. He is your refuge and your joy. Stop thinking about your failures and weaknesses! Think about Jesus - love Jesus - and He will transform you.

I'm praying for you,
me



For those of you who are still reading, I wrote that letter to myself.

I don't admit that to gain your pity or to cry out for help or any such thing. I wrote it because a battle I often face is the fight to remind myself of truth when my emotions (and Satan) are telling me entirely different things. And I share this with the internet world because I suspect that I am not the only one.

I want you to know that, Reader, if you're struggling, you're not alone. You're never alone. You're not a failure for struggling, and you're not weird or worthless for failing. You have been redeemed. You are no longer defined by your sin and weakness. You are defined by Christ.

So cling to the truth of God's love for you. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith. Take heart! For He began a good and beautiful work in you, and, whether or not you see it, He is continuing that work, and He will surely complete it.