The Real Christian Life: It’s Not Always Pretty, But It’s Powerful. Breaking the myths of perfection and embracing grace

I like the Christian life. How many of us can say that? I mean, say that and really mean it.

After all, we are Christians, followers of Jesus Christ. We believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, not so? 

But for some reason, our lives seem to be filled with problem after problem, challenge after challenge, sickness upon sickness, break ups, financial issues, confusion in the family, on the job and in the church, and the list goes on.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Some preacher told us come to Jesus, everything will be alright, Jesus will see you through, God answers prayers, He will provide. Yet, as we look at our lives, we are seeing that this Christian life is not a problem free life. 

In fact, following Jesus often makes the struggle more intense, not less. The real Christian life is not a funny viral Facebook reel, YouTube short, TikTok video or Instagram story. 

It’s a journey marked by grace in the middle of grit, beauty rising out of brokenness, and power forged through pain. The reality is, this Christian life is full of delays, detours, disappointments, and days when we find ourselves questioning everything.

You know what’s interesting and true? We are not the only ones going through, and we are at an advantage where we have examples in the Bible of people who have made some mistakes, so we can now know what to do and what not to do. 

We spoke a few days ago about Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul and son of Jonathan. In 2 Samuel chapter 4, when news came that Saul and Jonathan were dead, his nurse grabbed him and ran—and dropped him. That fall left him crippled in both feet.

How many of us today in the Body of Christ are like Mephibosheth—dropped by someone we trusted, stuck in a barren place, and feeling forgotten by life? There is so much trauma in the Body of Christ. Some of us are limping in secret. We smile on Sabbath or Sunday, but we’ve been dropped in private.

But thanks be to God that limp doesn’t disqualify us—it’s often the very sign that grace cried us through. 

Just as David remembered Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9:7 when he was in Lodebar, that place of no pasture, symbolic of barrenness, shame, and isolation, God wants us to know that He sees us. We are not alone. 

That’s the gospel, Family. That’s the real Christian life. We were dropped—by sin, by systems, by people. But God still sends for us, brings us to the King’s table, and says, “You belong here, not because of what you’ve done but because of who I am.”

There’s also a brother called Epa phro di tus, a companion of Paul, sent from the church in Philippi.

“For he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.” Philippians 2:30, ESV.

Can you imagine? Anybody been at the breaking point in the church, trying to do the Lord’s work? This man got so sick during ministry that he nearly died. 

Let that sink in for a moment: serving God almost killed him. That surely doesn’t fit the easy faith narrative we often sell.

Serving doesn’t mean suffering won’t come. And burnout is real, even in Kingdom work. But Paul honoured Epaphroditus—not for being a superstar, but for being faithful to the point of breaking.

Let’s be real. Some of us are pouring from empty cups, attending every church event, praying for others, while our souls are running on fumes. 

Family, the real Christian life requires restoration, not just responsibility. It’s a delicate balance.

We can also look at Rhoda—the servant girl in Acts chapter 12.

Peter had just been miraculously released from prison and knocked at the door of the house church. Rhoda answered, recognized his voice, and ran back to tell the others—but left him at the door.

“In her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.”Acts 12:14, ESV.

And what did the people say? “They said to her, ‘You are out of your mind.’” Acts 12:15, ESV.

This young servant girl was the first to witness a miracle, and she wasn’t believed. How many Rhodas today are hearing from God, recognizing what others overlook, but being dismissed because they’re “just a girl,” “just a servant,” “too emotional,” “too new,” “not ordained as an Evangelist or Pastor”, or somebody saying “Not she, not he…I don’t believe they’re saved because I remember when…”?

Family, the real Christian life requires that we listen to voices we often ignore—because God doesn’t always speak through the loudest or most educated. Sometimes, it’s Rhoda at the door, and the church is too distracted to believe.

Let’s talk about Uzziah. He was a king who started strong, walking in obedience, and experiencing success. But guess what slipped in? P R I D E. That unwelcome guest bunking with a lot of us as Christians.

2 Chronicles 26:16, NLT “But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.”

Uzziah’s story is a warning that giftedness without humility can become a trap. God had helped him, but he forgot the God who gave him strength. 

As the Body of Christ, we must remember that character must grow with calling, or the same platform that elevates you can also expose you.

The real Christian life: it’s not always pretty, but It’s powerful. 

And finally, there’s Ebed-Melech, an Ethiopian eunuch who saved the prophet Jeremiah from dying in a cistern. He risked his life to rescue a man most people had written off.

“So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to a room in the palace beneath the treasury, where he found some old rags and discarded clothing. He carried these to the cistern and lowered them to Jeremiah to pull him out.” Jeremiah 38:11, NLT

Ebed-Melech wasn’t a prophet, he wasn’t a priest, or a leader. He was a foreign outsider—but he had courage and compassion. And God remembered and said to him in Jeremiah 39:17b–18a, NLT “I will rescue you from those you fear so much. Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward.”

The encouragement for us today, is, trod on Christian soldiers. It doesn’t matter if no one knows your name. If we move with integrity and courage, heaven sees us.

So whether you're limping like Mephibosheth, 

Whether you’re like Epaphroditus—tired but still faithful,
Uzziah—needing to check pride before it crushes purpose,
Rhoda—overlooked but discerning,
or Ebed-Melech—acting boldly behind the scenes...

I matter. You matter. Our walk matters. And our struggles don’t disqualify us.

The real Christian life isn’t always full of answers. It’s full of moments where you just keep trusting. It’s not about impressing people—it’s about depending on Jesus. It’s about grace that meets you when strength fails, and power that shows up in your weakness.

This is the Christian life—flawed, faithful, raw, and redeemed.

aub - 19May25

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