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The Struggle Is Real

For several months I've seen the hashtag #thestruggleisreal on social media and it got me thinking about something. Don't get me wrong, hashtags are beneficial, such as when on vacation and looking for good food recommendations, I could search #portland, #goodeatsinportland, etc. But the hashtags that got me thinking are not the serious, categorizing types, but the funny, sarcastic - almost taglines or punch-lines, such as: #thestruggleisreal. This phrase is used in a making fun of ourselves kind of way in all sorts of posts. For example:  A photo of a grumpy, crazy haired toddler, next to a mom holding a cup of coffee, with the caption: Monday morning. #thestruggleisreal. A photo of a Starbucks cup, with the caption: They got my order wrong...again. #thestruggleisreal. A photo of a full parking lot, with the caption: Late to work = parking across the street #thestruggleisreal…you get the idea. These are not a true struggles, in light of real life problems, but more of an inconvenience. I’m certainly glad we can laugh at ourselves and our culture, but this hashtag did get me thinking about a deeper, spiritual truth, for many people the struggle is indeed real.
             
We live in a world with true hardship and heartache, yet, most of us seem quick to air our minor irritations on social media, while bearing true, deep struggles on our own. I’m not at all suggesting we post all of our grief, pain and personal tensions on FaceBook. I believe true vulnerability thrives in trusted relationships and spaces. However, the Super Hero trend is not helping anyone. As a culture, we seem to have it all together, able to juggle and multi-task arguably more than cultures before us ("thanks" to technology). But as I talk to those in my circles, I hear tones of loneliness, burn out and failure, despite appearance of “togetherness”. I hear comments of insecurity, struggle and feelings of despair, not to mention growing cases of depression and anxiety. If we feel like everyone around us has their lives together, that their greatest issue in life is getting the wrong Starbucks order, why wouldn’t we feel uncertain as to where to turn when our current issues are much, much greater?
           
The struggle is real, indeed, however it's not new. Looking at the ancient texts of the Bible, we can see generations well before us struggling with their own life issues. In Ephesians 6:10-20 we read that, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Some battles we see with our eyes: sickness, broken relationships, financial tension, addiction, loss. Other struggles are within the private spaces of our hearts and our minds. All struggle, all very real. 

 However, the same passage in Ephesians that confirms that struggle is timeless also gives us encouragement. We are advised to get up and fight, to stand firm in this struggle. Through Jesus, we have spiritual armor to wear in a spiritual battle. God encourages us to strengthen our hearts and minds by the power of reading and meditating on His word. He invites us to call on him in prayer, sharing our struggles and anxieties with Him, trusting Him to handle them for us. He invites us to battle together with other believers as we live in community, praying for each other and holding each up. God knows our deepest struggles, yet doesn’t leave us alone to fend for ourselves. The One who sees our situation has given us His word, His presence and His people to help us in our struggles.  

As we live out our time here on earth, no doubt the darkness will come – the struggle will be real, but may our response be different. May we keep our eyes on the One who holds us and knows the future.  May we reach out to those who could use our support in their own personal struggles. May we be real, in a FaceBook-status-kind-of-world. And may we admit that indeed, #thestruggleisreal...but so is God. 

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