It is sort of a joke on social media platforms that’s used to express “first world problems.” It is used when someone wants to point out the irony of life and life’s difficulties. Mostly people use it to dramatize some non-critical, while undesirable situation.
I saw a picture online that made me chuckle: “You don’t know ‘the struggle’ until you’ve eaten hot-dogs on sandwich bread.” It’s funny because this is the way I eat my hot-dogs most times. It’s not the way hot-dogs are 'supposed' to be eaten, but I just forget to get the buns. The irony is, in much of the world, hot-dog buns aren’t even something they think about, but in our culture, it’s expected. It’s a joke (maybe not that funny) – certainly not a real struggle.
But most people do have real struggles, for them life isn’t ironic or a joke.
Most people have real struggles, for them life isn’t ironic or a joke.
Jesus said he came that to provide the means for his followers to experience life in it’s fullest. The problem is, for many of us, life seems to have more difficulties and struggles than joy, peace, and love.
How do we life faithful lives in the midst of struggles and difficulties? How do we live faithfully in a culture that seems designed to make holiness impossible?
Peter wrote his letter to remind the church that the key to living a holy life in the midst of struggles is to remember our identity is found in Christ, nothing else. Owning our God given identity has a dramatic impact on the way we approach our work, our friendships, our marriages, our possessions, even ourselves.
Join us as we work through Peters first letter to the church starting August 19th.
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