I’ve pondered this question many times in the past. If you’ve been there or are currently struggling with this question, I trust this article will bring hope and strength to your faith, especially if with the emergence of 2025 you are seeking to go deeper in your Christian walk. This is one resolution that will not fade if you embrace it wholeheartedly.
Firstly, let me share with you an “old” or, better yet, timeless song, as it is still relevant to this day and always encourages me—”He never promised that the cross would not get heavy… Just hold on; God will show up.” This song reflects the reality that our journey of faith is not without hardship. Nevertheless, we have a God who not only cares but has actually equipped us to bear challenges to the point of overcoming. It’s true, we really have been given everything we need for life and godliness. None of the tools/weapons that God fashions and entrusts us with will ever fail. The question is, are we exercising them? What are they anyway?
Let’s examine the spiritual arsenal installed in us at salvation.
Now, it is important to understand that despite salvation being an instant moment of being delivered from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light, it is an intricate operation of God, performed by His Spirit. In other words, when we get saved, a lot happens to us and in us, so much so we would not be able to explore all elements of the process in this article alone. However, I will list three tools God gives to His children as soon as they are “born again.” The rest you can search the Scriptures to find; you won’t regret it. They’ll become precious treasures to you.
1. The mind of Christ (Phil 2:5)—which allows us to think, feel, and operate in the same character as Jesus did when He walked the earth.
2. The armour of God (Ephesians 6:14-18)—It cannot be seen with the natural eyes, but becomes evident every time we obey the Word of God. Righteousness, truth, and faithfulness are just a few pieces of this armour. To the world, they will appear weak and insignificant, but they are the power source of the sons of God (Christians), securing victory in every battle.
3. Prayer (James 5)—Don’t underestimate the power of prayer. Having the mind of Christ makes our prayers as effective as Jesus’. This is possible as the Holy Spirit living within us will give us wisdom and revelation of God’s will and move us to pray accordingly. The result? Guaranteed answers! The prayers of the righteous always prevail.
In light of these grand realities, there are two questions we must consider:
DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE?
Merely memorising scripture is no good. Believing the truth is essential to proving/experiencing it. The enemy of our souls knows that what we believe fuels our feelings and actions. He wants us to believe that trials are too overwhelming for us (as if they are more powerful), but that would be contrary to the Word of God. Satan’s strategy is to use doubt/unbelief to disarm us so that we become frustrated, defeated, discouraged, weakened, and even give up in our resolve to follow Christ faithfully.
But Jesus explained that all that’s required of us to do God’s works is to simply believe—not just that He existed, but everything He says (John 6:29). For example, believe that what God has done in you at salvation is far more powerful than the troubles and temptations you face (1 Corinthians 10:13).
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
God’s way or your own? There are moments when we may know what God desires but we want something else. Because this is a type of pride and does not align with God’s purpose, He will automatically resist us, making our way hard. In James chapter 4, the apostle exhorts us to submit our will to God; only then will we access grace (God’s power) to resist Satan.
I get it—as a Gen Z youth, there are so many things vying for our attention and affection. School, work, the expectations of others (and even ours), social media, etcetera, however subtle or obvious, can bring pressures that hinder us from growing in our faith if we yield to them. Temptation to resolve or find temporary escape in your own way will come, but be reminded of God’s way in Proverbs 3:5-7: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil...”
The truth is if we decide to maintain a lifestyle of obedience to God, the Christian life is NOT hard. Believing otherwise is accepting Satan’s delusion. God’s word never lies! We can do all things (including hard things) through Christ. There will be challenges, but you can surely overcome them by loving His way above all else. Deny yourself, let Him lead, and you will not struggle to please God. (Matthew 16:24, 11:29)
Darien Callum is a member of Passion and Purity, a school-based Christian ministry.
Editor’s note: Please see our article on Page 29 that provides in greater details issues facing GenZ, and how we can pray them into their purpose under Christ.