Faith Over Flesh: 6 Toughest Battles Every Christian Must Face (and How God Wins Them All)

Walking the Narrow Road: The Six Hardest Things to Do as a Christian

Let’s be honest—being a Christian isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s not just about Sunday services, quoting scripture, or singing worship songs. It’s about choosing light in a world that loves darkness. It’s about denying yourself daily in a culture obsessed with self. If you’ve ever felt like following Jesus is hard, you’re not crazy. You’re awake. Scripture never promised comfort, but it did promise Christ. And that makes the battle worth it.

Here are six of the hardest things to do as a Christian—and why, through grace, they are also the most powerful acts of spiritual resistance.

1. Dying to Self Daily

Jesus didn’t say “pamper yourself and follow Me.” He said deny yourself. That means crucifying ego, preferences, pride, and even personal dreams if they conflict with His will. The world says “do what feels good.” Christ says, “Pick up your cross.” This death-to-self isn’t a one-time event; it’s every morning, every decision, every breath. But here’s the beauty: every time you die to yourself, more of Christ lives in you. Self must decrease so the Savior can increase.

2. Loving Your Enemies (and Praying for Them)

Turning the other cheek sounds poetic—until someone actually slaps you. Or betrays you. Or gossips about you. Yet Jesus commands us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. That’s not weakness—it’s holy strength. The world retaliates; the Kingdom forgives. Real forgiveness isn’t forgetting—it’s remembering and releasing anyway. And when you love those who least deserve it, you reflect the God who loved you while you were still His enemy.

3. Staying Faithful in the Silent Seasons

There’s nothing more gut-wrenching than praying your heart out… and hearing nothing. No sign. No voice. No confirmation. Just silence. But faith isn’t proven by fireworks—it’s proven in the furnace. Job worshipped after losing everything. Abraham waited decades for the promise. David wrote Psalms from caves. If you’re in a silent season, don’t confuse God’s stillness for His absence. He’s not ignoring you—He’s strengthening you.

4. Living Holy in a Hyper-Sexualized World

In a culture that idolizes pleasure and calls purity “old-fashioned,” staying sexually pure—physically, mentally, digitally—is spiritual warfare. But holiness isn’t about repression; it’s about freedom. It’s not about legalism; it’s about love. You honor God with your body not because you’re afraid of Him, but because you’re in love with Him. True purity isn’t the absence of desire—it’s the redirection of desire toward something eternal.

5. Obeying When It Costs You Everything

God doesn’t always ask us to do what’s easy—He asks us to do what’s right. That may mean leaving a toxic relationship, quitting a high-paying job, staying in a tough marriage, or forgiving when you’re still hurting. Obedience can be painful, isolating, even terrifying. But on the other side of radical obedience is unshakable peace. You may lose the world, but you gain Christ—and that’s a trade no heart ever regrets.

6. Trusting God When Life Makes No Sense

Sometimes God leads you to places that look like setbacks. Prayers go unanswered. Dreams die. Tragedy strikes. And the temptation is to believe He’s left you. But faith isn’t believing in God when life is good—it’s trusting Him when life falls apart. When you don’t understand the plan, trust His heart. His ways are higher. His timing is perfect. And even in the chaos, He’s crafting something eternal.

Final Thoughts: The Narrow Road is Worth It

These six challenges? They’re not signs of weakness. They’re markers of real faith. If you’re struggling, you’re growing. If you’re hurting, you’re healing. If you’re sacrificing, you’re sowing. And in the end, it will all be worth it. Because Jesus never said it would be easy—He said it would be worth it. The narrow path may be steep, but it leads to life. And every time you choose Christ over comfort, Heaven stands and applauds.

So keep walking, weary soul. You’re not alone. Grace walks with you.