Why So Many Struggle Today

Straying from God's Design

Jul 10, 2025

Everywhere we look today, people are struggling—marriages are falling apart, addictions are on the rise, families are broken, people are confused about their identity, and disrespect for authority is rampant. It's easy to see these as separate issues, each needing its own solution. But if we take a step back and examine the deeper cause, we often find they all stem from the same root: straying from the divine order God has given us.

God created us with purpose and direction. He laid out a framework for how life is to be lived—how we are to interact with Him, with each other, and with the world around us. When that order is ignored or replaced with man’s own ideas, the result is disorder, confusion, and pain.

Man’s Way vs. God’s Way

The world has increasingly bought into the lie that we can be our own authority—that truth is relative and everyone should do what feels right to them. But God's Word says otherwise:

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." – Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)

When people stop submitting to God's authority and start following their own desires, they reap the consequences. Society begins to unravel because it was never meant to function apart from the Creator. We see this in Romans 1:21-22:

"Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools."

Disorder in Marriage and Family

One of the most obvious places where God’s order is ignored is in marriage and family. God created marriage between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24), gave husbands and wives distinct roles (Ephesians 5:22-33), and called children to honor their parents (Ephesians 6:1-3). But our culture often mocks or reverses these roles.

Instead of mutual love and submission under God’s authority, many couples battle for control, neglect spiritual leadership, or reject God’s design altogether. The result is broken homes, wounded children, and generational pain.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it..." – Psalm 127:1 (NKJV)

Confusion in Identity and Purpose

Another common issue is the confusion surrounding identity. People no longer look to their Creator to define who they are—instead, they turn inward, basing identity on feelings, preferences, or societal labels. But without a fixed anchor in God's truth, people become lost.

Genesis 1:27 reminds us:
"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

God gives each person value, identity, and purpose—but when we remove Him from the equation, the result is confusion and hopelessness.

Rebellion Against Authority

Disrespect for authority—whether parental, governmental, or spiritual—is rampant in today's world. But God established authority as a means to maintain order and protect what is good. When authority is abused, it’s tragic. But when authority is rejected altogether, it leads to lawlessness and chaos.

Romans 13:1-2 says:
"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God..."

This doesn’t mean every authority figure is righteous, but it means that authority itself is part of God's design—and rejecting it is a rejection of Him.

The Lies of Freedom Without God

Many people believe that true freedom means doing whatever you want—living without rules or restrictions. But freedom without God isn’t freedom at all—it’s bondage to sin. Only God offers true liberty:

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." – John 8:32 (NKJV)
"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." – John 8:36 (NKJV)

Trying to live life apart from God's truth may feel liberating at first, but it ultimately leads to emptiness, brokenness, and despair.

God’s Way Brings Life and Peace

Contrast all of this with what happens when someone follows God’s word. His ways bring peace, purpose, and stability—even in hard times.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." – Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)

Jesus described this in Matthew 7:24-25 when He said:
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock... and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock."

When you build your life on God’s truth, storms may come, but you will stand. You won’t be tossed around by feelings, cultural trends, or personal struggles.

The Question We Should Be Asking

People are quick to blame religion, God, or the Bible for their problems. But when have you ever heard someone say: “My life’s a disaster because I followed the Bible”?
You haven’t—because that’s not what happens. Obeying God doesn’t cause destruction—it brings healing, purpose, and direction.

The Call to Return

God is not hiding. He wants us to come back to Him. He longs for people to return to His word and His ways, for our good and His glory:

“Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!” – Deuteronomy 5:29 (NKJV)

We can’t expect healing if we continue to reject the only true source of life. The world’s wisdom is failing us. It's time we humble ourselves and return to the Lord.

Which Path Will You Choose?

If your life feels like it’s unraveling, ask yourself honestly—whose voice have you been following? Your own? The world’s? Or God’s?

The path back isn’t complicated, but it does require surrender. It starts with recognizing that God’s ways are better, and that only through Jesus Christ can we find true life.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10 (NKJV)

Let’s stop trying to reinvent the truth. Let’s return to the foundation that never fails—God’s word and God’s order. There, and only there, we will find peace.