Boldly Proclaiming Christ in Difficult Times

                                                               Boldly Proclaiming Christ in Difficult Times
 
      While preparing for this blog post I was also trying to figure out what topic to use for our Wednesday night bible studies that are starting back at The Church In The Valley. I went down a long rabbit hole while thinking of things that I thought would have been useful to me when I was in middle school and high school. The root of just about all of my struggles throughout those seven years was the same thing—low self-esteem. Between the ages of twelve and eighteen I didn’t have much to hold on to in regards to creating my own identity, or at least that is what I had convinced myself. I didn’t realize until years later while reflecting on that time of my life that during most of that time I had the greatest identity someone can have, I was a Christ follower! This brought to light my obvious struggle of trying to be the hero of my own movie, when it was actually a supporting role I was meant to play.
 
      The middle and high school years of your life are a difficult time for anyone. Attempting to overcome the obstacles you face during that phase of your life alone is the most ridiculous thing you can do—especially as a believer. We have a heavenly Father who wants nothing but the best for us when are a part of His family. One of the things He asks for in return is that we boldly proclaim Him in our day-to-day lives. Of course this is usually easier said than done, I mean even Peter caved to the crowds when asked if he was a follower of Christ moments before Christ was crucified. (Luke 22:54-62)
 
      However, standing up for Christ is one of the most influential ways we can make a difference in the lives of those around us. Being willing to place our identity in His sacrifice and becoming accepting of what that makes you is the most freeing experience someone can have. Our heavenly Father has a love for us that is so deep and perfect that it is called unconditional, unending, and unexplainable! Rather than trying to take on the world ourselves we should lean into this love and embrace it for what it is. God’s love for us is what gives us true identity. Through God’s love Christ was sent to be our sacrifice so that our identity could be found in Him and not in the world. Keep this in mind when you are faced with difficult times during middle school, high school, or frankly any phase of life.
 
      I think that Timothy explains it best in 2 Timothy 2:11-13 “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.” Be willing to boldly proclaim Christ in your life because if we are persecuted even to death, we will live with Him. Be willing to boldly proclaim Christ in your life because when we endure through the hardships life throws our way, we will reign with Him. Be willing to boldly proclaim Christ in your life because even when we have a lapse in faithfulness, He remains faithful. Pray that you will have the courage to boldly proclaim Christ in all the difficult times of your life!