As much as we might hate it, suffering is a part of life. The scriptures even tells us that there will be much suffering throughout our lives, and it can be used to draw us nearer to God and increase our faith.
But, that doesn’t mean it’s always easy.
When you’re in the midst of any type of suffering, you might find yourself asking why it’s happening? Why now? Why you? It’s overwhelming and defeating.
As a result, it can be easy for your faith to feel a little fragile during those times. So, what can you do when your faith doesn’t feel like enough to prevent suffering?
Remember that You’re Not Alone in Your Struggle
If you’re a spiritual individual, the first thing you might feel is guilt if you’re struggling with your faith. You’re not alone. This is something many Christians deal with when they’re going through times of trouble.
Knowing that can bring you comfort. It doesn’t make you a “bad” Christian or any less faithful than you were before. Your struggle might prompt you to make personal changes, if needed. However, your struggle may not have anything to do with your faith or worthiness, and may very well be a part of just being mortal. Regardless, God is there to support you through it all.
Is Suffering Really Avoidable?
Whether you’re a Christian or not, suffering isn’t 100% preventable in this life. If you do believe in God, don’t fall into the trap of believing that your suffering is the result of a lack of faith. Look at Christ, himself. He was without fault, and had more than enough faith, yet undoubtedly ended up suffering more than we can fully comprehend.
Many of Christ’s followers in ancient times were the ones who ended up suffering the most. They couldn’t prevent it or avoid it, but it had nothing to do with their internal faith. The same is true for His followers today.
So, is suffering avoidable? Probably not.
However, if you want to work through your suffering from a spiritual place, one of the best things you can do is to keep the lines of communication open between you and God. Don’t shut Him out. Pray, ask questions, open your scriptures, reach out to others, take part in studies, etc. The more you seek His answers, the better.
Getting Through Dark Times
It’s easy to feel like faith isn’t enough. Sometimes circumstances seem so bleak.
While it’s important to hold onto that faith and trust it, there are things you can do, personally to manage your feelings and responses, in periods of suffering and upset.
Once you accept the fact that you are actually suffering, you’ll be more likely to look for evidence of God’s support and guidance in your life. You can also find more motivation to deal with your circumstances in a positive way.
What are some of the best things you can do?
- Choose to be thankful and prayerful.
- Get outside of your own sense of suffering. Remind yourself that there is still laughter in the world and joy to be found.
- Spend time with family and friends, and invest time in their lives and concerns.
Get “outside” of yourself, and you’ll quickly recognize that there is still beauty and opportunity everywhere and that you can be grateful for it.
Keep in mind that even though it might not feel like it right now, you will be a stronger person because of your suffering. In fact, you’ll be stronger in your faith, too. It can feel hard to just “keep going” through everything. But, sometimes, that’s what we’re required to do.
Contact Me
If you’re struggling with your faith in times of suffering, you don’t have to go through the experience alone. Please contact me for help, or to learn more about different ways you can get through this low period in life. Often a safe therapeutic guidance can help you cope while still supporting a strong sense of faith.
Some of the benefits of individual therapy include:
- Having a safe, confidential space to work through life’s struggles
- Speaking openly with a highly-trained professional
- Learning to be curious about oneself and become more mindful about your choices
- Identifying relationship patterns that are helpful, or existing patterns that are interfering with your growth and wellbeing.
- I offer online therapy (video conference style of therapy), which provides increased level of comfort as you could meet with me from the privacy and comfort of your own home or other location.
You can request a specific appointment time that fits your schedule. Once confirmed, you can complete all New Patient Intake paperwork online as well.
*** The tips offered in this article are for general information and should not be considered medical or psychological advice. For more personalized recommendations appropriate to your individual situation, please contact us or obtain professional guidance.
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