Living for God can often feel difficult and challenging. There are several reasons why this may be the case according to the Bible.
We Live in a Fallen World
One major reason living for God can feel difficult is that we live in a fallen, sinful world. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the world and corrupted all of creation (Genesis 3). Ever since then, we’ve lived in a world full of temptation, suffering, and evil forces that seek to turn us away from God (1 John 5:19). As believers, we’re called to be set apart from the world and its sinful ways (Romans 12:2), which often means going against the flow of culture and society. This can make living for God feel like swimming upstream. We face peer pressure, worldly philosophies opposed to biblical truth, and our own sinful tendencies pulling us away from pursuing God wholeheartedly.
Spiritual Warfare
The Bible tells us that there is an unseen realm of spiritual warfare happening all around us. Satan seeks to steal, kill, and destroy God’s people and their faith (John 10:10). Demonic powers and principalities actively work to tempt believers, instill fear, and disrupt efforts to draw close to God. As Christians, we must “put on the full armor of God” to stand firm against these evil attacks (Ephesians 6:10-18). This intense spiritual battle can make living for Christ feel like a constant struggle at times. We grow weary fighting against unseen forces seeking to derail our faith.
Persecution and Suffering
Jesus promised that following Him would bring persecution from the world. “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20-21). Standing up for Christ and living out biblical values often brings mockery, rejection, discrimination, and in some cases even physical violence against believers. No one likes to be mistreated, so facing persecution can make living for God daunting. Furthermore, suffering is an inevitable part of life in our fallen world. Sickness, tragedy, relational disputes and hurt, financial pressures – trials will come. Holding onto faith through deep waters of affliction can be tremendously difficult. We long to understand why God is allowing such hardship in our lives.
Discipline and Sacrifice
Truly following Christ requires self-denial, sacrifice, and letting go of sinful lifestyles. Jesus said any who wish to come after Him must “deny themselves and take up their cross daily” (Luke 9:23). This means sacrificing our own comfort, plans, and desires to live for God’s Kingdom priorities instead. Staying faithful to biblical principles will at times require abstaining from cultural norms and activities we may find enjoyable. The narrow road of godly discipline is often difficult, especially when others around us are living for entertainment and fleeting pleasures. Giving up cherished sins or life ambitions that conflict with God’s will can test our commitment. The Christian life involves tough choices that go against the grain, which makes living for God challenging.
Our Limited Perspective
As finite human beings, we only view life from a limited earthly perspective. We can’t see the spiritual realm and eternal picture as God does. At times God will lead us into situations meant for spiritual growth which require faith and perseverance. But because we can’t perceive His higher purposes, we grow discouraged when living for God becomes painful or confusing. Our vision is too small. We often expect life with God to be easier than it is, so when encountering troubles, we’re quick to doubt His wisdom and goodness. But Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us God’s ways are higher than our ways. His understanding surpasses ours. What may look senseless to us makes perfect sense from heaven’s point of view. Living by faith means pressing on even when we can’t see what God is doing (2 Corinthians 5:7).
There’s No Coasting
Serving Christ requires continuous exertion. There’s no autopilot or coasting in the Christian life. We must “run with perseverance the race marked out for us”, ever pressing toward the upward call of Christlikeness (Hebrews 12:1, Philippians 3:12-14). Jesus illustrated this using the metaphor of a narrow gate and difficult road leading to life in Matthew 7:13-14. It’s a path of intentionality, running hard after God even through strain and discomfort caused by the uphill climb. Coasting or passively drifting through life fails to gain ground in spiritual maturity. If we try to casually float along, the natural tide will carry us backwards, off the path of following Jesus. Progress requires actively striving, vigilantly putting sin to death, and sacrificing to keep in step with the Holy Spirit day after day. It’s this daily discipline and steadfast pursuit of God that often gets tiring.
God’s Timing is Different Than Ours
Living for the Lord requires an eternal perspective, yet we get impatient wanting everything now. God works on a timeline far exceeding our limited human understanding. What we see as delay, He may purpose for spiritual preparation. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, says the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Divine wisdom knows we are not ready for what we insist on prematurely. God lovingly keeps us in a period of waiting and maturity until the proper timing, even when we desperately wish He would hurry up according to our agenda. Walking in God’s will means waiting on Him (Psalm 27:14), even when we don’t understand the reason for the delay. But it’s precisely in these periods of patient waiting that our faith is stretched and deepened. We discover the blessing of His perfect timing, though it’s rarely easy.
Our Flesh is Weak
While our born again spirit longs to serve God, we still inhabit fallen, sinful flesh. Paul described the constant battle between our flesh and spirit in Romans 7. Our old nature pulls us back toward sinful living, while the new nature in Christ compels us forward toward righteousness (Galatians 5:17). This internal tug-of-war rages inside every believer. Our flesh tends to drag us down to the world’s standards, while the Holy Spirit works to transform us into Christ’s image (2 Corinthians 3:18). Scripture commands us to crucify and deny the fleshly desires at war against our soul (Galatians 5:24, 1 Peter 2:11). But this process of sanctification will continue through life and requires great discipline. The weakness of our flesh makes striving to live holy lives more taxing. Our sin nature leads us like a magnet back into old patterns and comfort zones at odds with God’s best.
We Get Discouraged
When striving to live for Jesus, failures and setbacks will happen. Personal weaknesses, spiritual attacks, and overwhelming challenges all can leave us feeling defeated in our faith at times. But Scripture exhorts believers to persevere even through struggles, not lose heart or give up (Galatians 6:9, 2 Corinthians 4:1, 16). We must maintain an eternal perspective that looks beyond present afflictions to the glory set before us in heaven (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Romans 8:18). Yet in our humanity, it’s far too easy to get discouraged when hard times come and temptations overwhelm. Taking our eyes off Christ leads to sinking (Matthew 14:22-33). We become distracted by worldly pursuit, pleasures, or self-pity. Maintaining fierce resolve to follow Jesus through every high and low of life is not easy. Our confidence can get shaken. But He remains faithful when we falter. By His power we can keep going.
We Still Battle Ongoing Sin
Though Christians have been freed from sin’s dominion, we have not yet been made completely sinless. While our regenerated spirit longs after God, we still live in unredeemed bodies and battle unruly flesh. We must wage daily war against the lingering influence of indwelling sin (Romans 7:21-25). Scripture implores believers to “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature” (Colossians 3:5). This means intentional, ongoing repentance whenever we stumble. Striving to maintain consistent obedience amidst these sins wars against our soul proves burdensome at times. Walking uprightly requires admitting failures, asking forgiveness, and persevering through frequent spiritual attacks the devil hurls against us. Putting effort into perpetually praying, staying in God’s Word, fellowshipping with other believers, and practicing spiritual disciplines helps strengthen us for war against sin. But the fight itself and process of sanctification will always prove challenging.
Busyness and Distractions
Our fast-paced, pleasure-driven culture makes living for Christ’s Kingdom exceptionally difficult. The combination of work demands, constant technology, media overload, materialism, and assaults on the family structure leaves little room for pursuing holiness. Most of society is spiritually asleep, unconcerned with eternal matters and indifferent toward God amid the frenetic hustle. To stay focused on following Jesus requires intentionally unplugging from the frenzy and filter out clamor that pulls us from fellowship with the Spirit. Guarding our time, attention, and affections will inevitably go against the flow. Saying no to fun distractions feels hard when everyone around us lives for fleeting entertainment. The bombardment of stimuli and opportunities to indulge the flesh could steer anyone off course. But Scripture exhorts believers to fix our eyes on the unseen eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). Setting apart regular time for prayer, studying the Bible, corporate worship, and simplicity keeps distraction at bay. But it’s an uphill battle in this hyperconnected world.
God Convicts Us
The Holy Spirit works within every believer to foster Christlikeness, convict of lingering sin, and illuminate areas not yet surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus. At times this means God will put His finger on something in our lives not fully pleasing to Him that He wants adjusted. The conviction itself feels difficult. Scripture reminds us that God disciplines and trains those He loves, as a father does his children (Hebrews 12:5-11). His repeated correction produces holiness when yielded to. Yet we all naturally want to cling to comforts and habits the Spirit prompts us to release or change. God’s conviction feels uncomfortable because it presses us forward into unknown obedience. Additionally, illuminating an area of necessary growth means airing out dirty laundry or buried issues now exposed to the light (Ephesians 5:13-14). Walking in greater freedom means processing through pain of past wounds, admitting failures, and getting honest before God. But embracing the Spirit’s conviction is the only way forward into deeper communion with Christ. And that process proves trying at times.
God Allows Trials and Pruning
Pruning and refining through trials are spiritual truths described throughout Scripture. Jesus told His disciples they would face trouble in this world, but to “take heart” knowing He has “overcome the world” (John 16:33). Paul wrote that “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). James instructed believers to consider trials joy because they spur spiritual growth. (James 1:2-4). Even Jesus learned obedience through suffering (Hebrews 5:8). If the sinless Son of God had to undergo difficulties to mature, how much more will God allow trials in our lives for the purpose of character development? While logically we may understand the concept, personally experiencing deep hardship, loss, or pain never proves easy. Tough seasons of pruning feel anything but joyful when encountered. The heat of the furnace exposes impurities in our hearts and feels quite painful. Walking through the lonely valley of trials requires hope in God’s faithfulness and purpose. Each time we emerge refined, but not without struggle.
Temptations Abound
Scripture repeatedly warns believers to watch out for traps the enemy lays through diverse temptations. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Particularly in periods of spiritual growth or after victories, Satan goes on the offensive. Both internal fleshly desires and external worldly allurements seek to entangle (Hebrews 12:1). Popular media, underlying motives in relationships, and self-centered living all provide openings for temptation. Because no one, not even mature Christians, is totally immune from stumbling (1 Corinthians 10:13), we must constantly guard our eyes, hearts, and minds from whatever might steer us off path. But upholding high moral standards amidst relentless assault proves exhausting over time. Ongoing vigilance against subtly embedded compromise in culture wears down even the best intentioned over decades. Without diligent prayer and accountability, even faithful followers can grow weary and let their guard down.
Maintaining Closeness with God
Experiencing intimacy with God fuels desire but requires continued seeking on our part. Unlike earthly friendships, closeness with the Lord won’t just happen automatically. Jesus said “ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). The blessings of His presence are received by those who hunger and pursue after the Spirit. But maintaining that passionate pursuit daily amid life’s distractions and trials takes great effort. Our flesh tends to coast once an encounter has ended rather than staying engaged through ongoing worship, intercession, biblical meditation and listening for His voice. Allowing precious time with Christ to slip away leads to spiritual dryness and weakens defense against sin. Without diligently fanning the flames of our devotion, they slowly die down. Staying continually connected to the Vine bearing fruit requires perseverance (John 15).
In conclusion, living wholeheartedly for God proves challenging for many reasons. But His promised grace is greater than any struggle the Christian life brings (2 Corinthians 12:9). Clinging to the hope found in Christ along with the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit equips believers to overcome. We can confidently press onward through every hardship or trial by God’s strength. Though intensely difficult at times, the blessings of walking closely with Jesus far outweigh any cost. The trials meant to derail our faith, if allowed, will purify and refine devotion toward deeper intimacy with God and fulfillment of His purposes. Rather than allowing hardships to discourage, they can propel us forward if met with persevering trust in the Spirit’s work. God reminds us He will never leave or forsake His children (Deuteronomy 31:6). His empowering presence enables believers to live for Him no matter how challenging it feels.