Why is living for God so difficult?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Jesus was a servant who made sacrifices, and we should expect to do the same in our Christian walk (Mark 10:45; Luke 14:33; James 4:4). Crucifying our flesh is a reality for believers (Romans 6:6-7; 7:21-23; Galatians 2:20, 5:16, 25) but following the Holy Spirit’s leading—even if it requires sacrifice—is something we can rejoice in (Acts 13:52). Sadly, some have walked away from Christ because they did not want to suffer the cost of following Him (John 6:63-66). However, as new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), our love for Him can motivate us to rejoice—even when we are persecuted for our faith (1 Peter 4:16).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Our hearts are naturally rebellious. The Old Testament teaches that the human heart is deceitful and spiritually sick, which makes it difficult for us to genuinely desire and follow God's ways (Jeremiah 17:9).
• We face constant spiritual opposition. Sin is described as a force that lurks near us and wants to control us, which means living for God requires active resistance and discipline (Genesis 4:7).
• Instead of relying on our own understanding, we’re called to trust God completely—something that often challenges our pride and self-reliance (Proverbs 3:5).
• God commands His people to be holy because He is holy. This is often difficult and living with that standard takes deep, personal transformation (Leviticus 11:44).
• Difficult moments often serve as tests from God to reveal whether we truly love Him with all our hearts and are willing to remain faithful under pressure (Deuteronomy 13:3). This often makes following God difficult, especially when we don’t understand why things are happening a certain way. However, God is good and can always be trusted.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus came to serve us and to save us, so we should do the same for Him (Mark 10:45). When we follow Jesus, we sacrifice our fleshly desires and inevitably endure loss.
• Having relationships and possessions are not evil, but we must hold them loosely enough to give them up for the greater cause of Christ. His will and His ways must come first in our life. During Jesus' earthly ministry, crowds of people gathered to see His miracles, but when He spoke about the difficulties of the gospel and what it would take to live for God, many people stopped following Him (John 6:63-66).
• Jesus said: "any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33). We can expect to sacrifice when we follow Jesus.
• The apostle Paul wrote his most joyful letter, Philippians, while in prison for preaching the good news of Christ. Likewise, despite the suffering we face as believers, following the Spirit can bring us great joy (Acts 13:52).
• We are to crucify our flesh, not modify it (Romans 6:6-7). Physical crucifixion is a horrifically painful process; similarly, crucifying our flesh is a process difficult to bear.
• Our flesh wants to live and reign in us. Paul specifically talked about the battle between his spirit that desired to follow God and his flesh that wanted to satisfy itself (Romans 7:21-23). We are faced with a similar battle.
• Second Corinthians 5:17 says that all who are in Christ are new creations. Personal guilt is replaced and love for God becomes our new motivation—but we still have to battle against our fleshly self.
• As Christians, we are supposed to crucify our flesh so that we may live by the Spirit, which is a very painful process. Paul wrote, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
• Although we live in a fleshly body, we are instructed to live according to the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:16; 25). This can certainly be a challenge since we must constantly put to death our sinful ways perpetuated by our sinful nature.
• True Christianity cannot be custom-made to fit our comfort level. The Bible says, "… Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (James 4:4).
• When we are persecuted for our faith, instead of complaining or living in fear, we are told to glorify God (1 Peter 4:16). This is often difficult when we are in the midst of trials and persecution.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Christians are most often tripped up in their walk with God because they do not want to live one hundred percent for Christ because of the discomfort, embarrassment, or persecution they may face. Thankfully, when we are living for God, we have a personal relationship with Him that involves hearing His voice through the Word and through prayer (John 10:27; Luke 11:28). This closeness to Him strengthens us to persevere in denying our flesh, taking up our cross daily, and following Him (Luke 9:23). Serving the Lord brings gladness because it offers fulfillment in and unity with Christ and enables us to experience His presence in our lives (Psalm 100:2; John 15:1-11). Although living for God involves sacrifice, we also gain great joy and peace in being close to Him. Thankfully, in His goodness, God promises to honor us when we live for Him (John 12:26).

UNDERSTAND

• Christians should expect to live a life of service and sacrifice, modeled after Jesus.
• The flesh is at war with the Spirit, which makes living the Christian life difficult at times.
• We should be motivated to sacrifice based on our love for the Lord.

REFLECT

• What difficulties have you faced in your walk with Christ?
• How does reflecting on Jesus’ life and suffering help you face difficulties in your Christian walk?
• In what ways has becoming a new creation in Christ impacted how you face challenges in your life?

ENGAGE

• How can we find joy in the Lord even when life is difficult?
• What are some key challenges in living a crucified life? The joys?
• In what ways is your reaction to difficult circumstances different as a believer than it was before you found Christ?