4 Honest Challenges of Walking With Jesus

Sometimes, as Christian women, our own desires can be at odds with the kind of life we know God has called us to.

What does it look like to walk with Jesus in a world that seems to be turning its back on him?

The Challenge of Jealousy and Comparison

Today, it’s easier than ever to compare ourselves to others, or at least the glimpses of their lives that we see on social media or in passing at the grocery store.

We constantly compare ourselves to other women who we think dress better than us, are more productive, have nicer houses or more well-behaved children, etc. We might think our life would be so much easier “if only…”

These thoughts can easily lead to envy and discontentment.

God tells us our worth is found in him alone. He calls us to be content and have joy in all circumstances. When we’re tempted to feel less than satisfied with our own lives, we can turn to God and ask him to remind us of our worth. We can ask for his help steadying our hearts and finding contentment.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content”
1 Timothy 6:6-10 (ESV).

The Temptation to Gossip

This is one of the trickiest sins to navigate, as it has become so widely accepted, even within the walls of the church. I believe it’s especially so for women. When we get together, we talk. Even us introverts want to know what’s going on in the lives of others!

So, how do we honor our brothers and sisters in Christ and avoid partaking in gossip?

When someone else’s name comes up in a conversation, we must consider the following: intention, truth, and impact. If it’s slanderous, untrue, or hurtful, we don’t want to be involved in it.

Intention:

What is the purpose of bringing this up? Is it to build up the individual and portray them in a positive light? Is it out of genuine concern, with the goal of addressing and caring for this person together?

Truth:

Is what is being said true? Has it been witnessed or said directly, or has the info been passed down a line of people? If you’re not sure, put a stop to it. Even if it is true, it still might not be your place to share.

Impact:

What would that person think if they were overhearing this conversation? If the person being talked about was within earshot and heard the things being said, would their reaction be positive or negative?

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear”
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV).

Striving to “Fit In”

I know, most of us aren’t in high school anymore. Hopefully, we’ve learned to care a little less about this over the years. However, I still think it’s embedded in our nature to crave the approval of others.

Maybe you don’t want to feel like an outsider when your friends complain about their husbands or children, talk about going out for drinks, toss out swear words, or ramble about a trashy TV show they love.

The crowd you’re hanging out with might not necessarily have all the same priorities and values as you do personally. It can be a challenging balancing act to stick to your own convictions without compromise while refraining from judging the actions of others.

When the Holy Spirit convicts us of something, we need to be careful to listen. As natural as it is to want to please others, we need to remember that our purpose on earth is to serve and please the Lord.

“For am I now seeking the approval of man or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ”
Galatians 1:10 (ESV).

Caught Up in the Races

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom rushing kids from one activity to another while trying to stay on top of all the responsibilities at home, a businesswoman busting your butt to excel in your career, or maybe you’re juggling both the work and home life balance — whatever the case, most of us have a hard time resting.

Society emphasizes the importance of hard work and glorifies being the “busiest” or “most tired” as if it’s an honor to be pursued. It’s easy for women to fall into the trap of thinking we need to work ourselves to death.

While God doesn’t want us to be lazy, he does call us to rest.

Many of us have become too busy in our day-to-day lives to focus on things that are truly important, like spending time in the Word, being together as a family, building community, serving others, etc.

God never intended us to be that busy. He calls us to be still, rest in his presence, and praise him for the beautiful things in life we’re often too preoccupied to acknowledge.

“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us, therefore, strive to enter that rest so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience”
Hebrews 4:9-11 (ESV).

These are just a few of the areas where it can be difficult to focus on walking with Jesus rather than succumbing to the pressure of societal norms.

God loves us so much, and he calls us to live according to his word for his glory and our good. We may “miss out” on some things the world offers us, but what we gain is infinitely greater.

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving”
Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV).