When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we receive the gracious gift of salvation and full reconciliation with God. While we’re welcomed into God’s family from this moment on, we still have to make daily decisions to think, speak, and act in alignment with Jesus’ way of living.
This can involve practicing spiritual disciplines, finding and engaging with like-minded friends and mentors, attending church regularly, and loving others well. We begin to experience the peace and joy that only God can give, but life’s circumstances rarely get easier overnight.
3 Challenges of Being a Christian
As Christians, we face a number of challenges and temptations over our lifetime. Identifying them can make them easier to overcome. Here are just a few of the biggest challenges Christians face every day.
Challenge 1: The Temptation to Conform
When we follow Jesus and walk in step with the Holy Spirit, we’ll likely make decisions that might look or feel weird at first. It can be tempting to compromise our values to fit in socially.
However, Jesus reminds us in John 17:16 that we “are not of the world”—like He wasn’t. This means that while we live in a broken world filled with sin, corruption, and heartache, our Christian faith sets us apart.
We can make the decision to be different.
We can make the decision to be different, believing that God’s way of living is better than what the world says we need. In response to Jesus’ way of living, we might cut back on or eliminate drinking alcohol, be more mindful of the music or shows we watch, consider our purchases with others in mind, or even change the language we use to express frustrations.
Challenge 2: The Temptation to Put Yourself First
We all have a natural tendency to prioritize ourselves or consider our best interests above the best interests of others. When discussing the two greatest commandments, Jesus reminded His followers to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). He knew that caring for ourselves often comes naturally, but it can be a challenge for us to love others with the same care and compassion.
This can be especially challenging when people get on your nerves, you’re in the middle of relational tension, or you already feel overwhelmed by things on your plate. It can be difficult to slow down and shift your perspective from yourself to others.
However, you can make small choices to move in the right direction. For example, you can find regular opportunities to serve others at church or in your community, love the people you live with well, and practice generosity by sharing what you have with others.
Challenge 3: The Temptation to Stop Believing
As we walk with Jesus for a lifetime, we’ll realize the truth of His words in John 16:
“... In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NIV
It can be tempting to think following Jesus exempts us from hardships and challenges, but His words remind us that we will still experience hurt. When we experience disappointments, unanswered prayers, or confusion about God’s plan, it can be tempting to stop believing in Him.
Our frustrations and doubts can be a catalyst to walk away, or they can be an opportunity to lean in and experience the character of God in a whole new way.
In these moments, the Bible tells us to choose prayer and rely on God’s guidance rather than allowing our faith to falter. The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6 NIV
When life is hard and we’re faced with the temptation to stop believing, Scripture gives us guidance on how to respond. It reminds us to choose prayer, petition, and talking about our frustrations with God instead of walking away.
The Cost of Following Jesus
When we consider the cost of following Jesus and the challenges we’ll face, we might feel discouraged or wonder if it’s worth it. Jesus talks about the mindset of His followers in the Parable of the Hidden Treasure:
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” Matthew 13:44-46 NLT (emphasis added)
Followers of Jesus Christ think like someone who has found a treasure hidden in a field—they do everything possible to buy the field so they can get the treasure. The field costs everything, but the price is nothing compared to the value of the treasure. Choosing to follow Jesus is costly, but the payoff is far more than we could ever imagine.
When we wholeheartedly follow Jesus, we’ll experience very real challenges and temptations. We have to fight to be different from the world, to put others first, and to live by faith. But when we do, the outcome is so much better than the sacrifices we make. We experience a life filled with joy, hope, and a deep sense of God’s presence.
This article is inspired by the small group study guide Following Jesus: Conversations About the Kingdom by Life.Church. Use this guide with friends, family, or your small group to explore Jesus’ way of living together. You’ll discover new, richer, and more beautiful ways to follow Him.