The struggle is real

Bible Reading - Mark 16

If you have been through the demise of a beloved parent or grandparent, or experienced the tragedy of losing a child, you would know that the death of someone you love can bring great grief.

This was probably how the women who followed Jesus felt. They had experienced His power and kindness. They had heard His amazing teachings. They loved Him as their Teacher and Lord. They were crushed by His death.

Three days after Jesus’ crucifixion, the women went to His tomb to prepare His body for a dignified burial. To their shock, they met an empty tomb and a strange being who declared that Jesus was no longer dead. Jesus has risen and is alive!

You would think that the women would be relieved or happy to have Jesus back. Instead, they ran away and kept quiet, for they were greatly puzzled and afraid (v8). They were not the only ones who struggled to believe that Jesus has risen. Even His disciples rejected the testimonies of those who had seen the resurrected Son of God (v14).

Today, Christians face the same struggle of faith. We may read from the Bible that Jesus is the Son of God. We may sing about Him during services. We may pray in Jesus’ name. We may even be serving Jesus in ministries.

But there will come times when we will struggle to believe. We may be tempted to pursue pleasures and wealth instead of Jesus. We may give in to opposition towards our faith. We may fear death when we are down with dreadful diseases.

The struggle of faith is real and can come in many other forms. When tempted, we may struggle to see the purpose of living for Jesus. When facing opposition, we may forget that Jesus has promised everlasting life to those who are faithful to Him till the end. When battling an illness, we may find it tough to trust that Jesus has already defeated death.

Since we will struggle, let’s build our faith strong. Continue to deepen your relationship with Jesus by reading the Bible, listening to the counsel of more mature Christians, spending time with your church family and praying to God.

How else can you prepare yourself for the struggle of faith?

As you spend time on the couch with God, take a moment to pray and reflect on what you've read.