The Struggle of Being a Millennial Christian

I was supposed to have this blog ready to go before I traveled to see family on the east coast last weekend. Unfortunately, a matriarch of my mother's family passed away suddenly. It was a moment that caught me by surprise and interrupted the plans of fun and memories. I never would have guessed this would have happened during this time as my family is still grieving the tragic loss of my uncle, who was like a father figure to me. As I get older, I am realizing that death still hits like a ton of bricks and makes you question everything about life. Even as a Christian, you wonder: where is God in these moments? Could I have prayed this away? Where was my warning to prepare me for this? How do I move forward? If you haven't experience loss, just being a Christian during this time, especially as a young person (Millennial or Gen Z) makes you question if there is a benefit to this faith while battling trials and tribulations.

All types of challenges and trials will come to you during this time. One of the particular types of things that often challenge our faith is pain. Pain happens through disappointment, failure, tragic loss, death, unexplained events, confusion, anger, etc. When moments like this happen, we question for how long do we feel this unfathomable feeling in our heart that weighs us down and often makes us feel that we can't bear this another minute. The next thought is how is God okay with this pain that I am dealing with? And as a millennial, we have recognized that pain turns into/connects to our trauma. This trauma shows up in our adolescent and adult years and can go unhealed. As we carry this pain, the question remains: how could God allow this to happen to me? Where is He and why does my faith seem to allow me to go through painful times? Is God real? Pain will make you challenge God and ask so many questions. Questions that millennials want an instant answer to.

Millennials are used to things happening instantly. Instant answers, instant results....but what if you had to wait for something? What if an end result that you desired for didn't end up occurring? For the average person, they could argue that the Christian God is not valuable or unrealistic to believe in because He doesn't deliver as we desire. But what if that was the point, even if it does bring pain? For God was never supposed to be presented to us as a genie, but as one who was ever present and knows the beginning and end of time. And as things unfold, with tragic events having its moment in our lives, He knows too well what would build our character and what will bring about a change in us for Him. God seems to take risk with us because what He wants to bless us with will cost something being taken away from us. This tactic doesn't happen all the time but it can happen sometimes. I constantly tell my friends that one of the biggest ways that God can get our attention is through pain. My generation is experiencing a lot of pain and it makes some of us come back to our roots of what we were taught in our faith. These times also are allowing us to seek God and discover some of our spiritual gifts. The gifts that are a blessing to others may be the very thing that also may save someone's life. But this discovery may not have happened if you didn't go through and grow through your painful days. Sometimes pain is the beginning to a new life.

In life, when you are having a new beginning, it is important to understand that having supportive friends who are on the same path and are supportive of you, are crucial to any faith that you may have. You never know when you are going to need them. And as God brings you reason to keep pushing through your pain, you soon learn at the end what it was all meant for if you truly paid attention. That's why I say that it is hard being a millennial Christian because what we know is to manifest and speak what we want into existence (this mostly relates to materialistic things). We never talk about how God has a set plan for our lives, how obedience keeps us connected with Him, how we learn to trust Him more, how tragedy will happen and loss with family and friends will occur with no warning; all to turn around and use us to bless other people but also for Him to bless us. I could also go as far to say that those who are not Christian could even attest to the fact that bad times build character and they would never be where they are today, if certain situations didn't happen, even if those situations were bad and painful.

Millennial Christians are battling with a lot of pain. I often hope Gen Z has it better than we do. As we all are choosing our desired faith walks, I hope that millennial Christians recognize the blessing they have to build their relationship with God and trusting that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Don't be afraid to push through the pain, don't be afraid to find your calling and don't be afraid to grow stronger in your faith. If I could leave you with one thing it would be this: "There is always purpose in your pain."

Sincerely,

Me <3