We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:3-5

 

Experts say that perfectionism is increasing, and with it, mental health struggles.

 

We often feel like we should be able to handle much more in life than we were ever designed to. The struggle is real. A study shows that young people—in particular– are facing “more competitive environments, more unrealistic expectations, and more anxious and controlling parents than generations before.”[1]

 

If you’re a follower of Jesus, you may think that it’s not very spiritual to struggle. A Christian psychologist once shared how he started out as a young idealist intent on changing the world. He slowly realized he’d been expecting perfection from himself and trying to help others be perfect–accomplishing nothing except setting everyone up for disappointment. Embracing his struggles and meeting other people in theirs was a far more powerful way to connect, encourage, and discover God’s lessons on the journey.

 

God tells us in Scripture that problems and trials give us the chance for Him to develop endurance in us. “And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment,” says the Bible book of Romans (Romans 5:3-5).

 

We were made to struggle together. “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ,” Scripture encourages (Galatians 6:2). But we can’t share each other’s burdens if we don’t know about them, and we probably won’t share them if we’re all pretending that we don’t struggle. God longs to meet us together, not at the end of our struggles, but right in the midst of them.

 

[1] Curran, Thomas, and Andrew P. Hill. “Perfectionism Is Increasing over Time – Apa.Org.” American Psychological Association, 11 Nov. 2017, www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/bul-bul0000138.pdf.