Episode 3

full
Published on:

19th Jul 2025

Christianity is HARD!

Out with the old and in with the new! The 'new' is usually more enticing - but not when it comes to being a 'new follower' of Jesus. So, let's unpack some of those things that make following Christ difficult, as well as staying in and contending for the Faith.

Transcript
Speaker:

Welcome to the I Can.

2

:

He Can podcast the podcast

for literally anyone.

3

:

However, if you are a woman, you're

probably the person listening on the

4

:

other side of that speaker right now.

5

:

I'm your host Sarai, And you'll

pretty much get to know everything

6

:

about me, including the things that

make me say I can't, but also the

7

:

things that remind me that he can.

8

:

So without further ado, let's

jump into today's episode.

9

:

I.

10

:

All right everyone, welcome back to

episode three of, I Can't, he Can,

11

:

like The Introduction said, I'm

Sara, and today we are going to be

12

:

discussing things that make being a

Christian hard and I don't wanna do

13

:

too much of the small talks today.

14

:

So let's dive in to today's episode.

15

:

first I wanna go over a few

things that, in my opinion.

16

:

Describe a person who is Christian, and

obviously it's being a follower of Jesus.

17

:

It is using prayer when things get

difficult in life, when you need

18

:

just that extra help from Jesus.

19

:

You staying in prayer, obviously, also

staying in your word, reading the Bible.

20

:

Um, forgiveness, mercy, loving

others, dying to your flesh.

21

:

for example, trying to not

sin, not being prideful.

22

:

Not being greedy, no sex before marriage.

23

:

Envy, gluttony, all these things.

24

:

also tithing and being a better servant

is also something that describes,

25

:

Christianity and one of the most important

things, but I think that is also very

26

:

difficult for most people is obedience.

27

:

I'm not sure if I missed anything

and if I did feel free to.

28

:

And call me out.

29

:

Uh, you can always email me.

30

:

I can't, he can podcast@gmail.com.

31

:

now when we follow Jesus, we

no longer follow the world.

32

:

I forgot where I read that statement.

33

:

And it's, it's so true because the

more we grow in our relationship.

34

:

Jesus, we feel even more

convicted over time.

35

:

And if you don't know what the word

convicted is, convicted is kind

36

:

of like when you feel guilty about

doing something But conviction has

37

:

more to do with sins and obviously

with Christianity as a whole.

38

:

However, if you start feeling

convicted about, I don't know,

39

:

let's say, I'll give you an example.

40

:

'cause I know that that's very

common for a lot of people.

41

:

If you find yourself scrolling and looking

at other people's relationships and you're

42

:

like, oh, I wish my relationship was like

that, or this or that, that is a form of

43

:

envy and you start feeling in your heart.

44

:

God, you put it here in my soul

that I need to stop doing this.

45

:

I need to stay away from these things.

46

:

So as we start following Jesus, we

tend to grow in these areas and we

47

:

slowly start to like pull away from it.

48

:

And that is obviously very good.

49

:

but it is definitely a

struggle for a lot of people.

50

:

So, let's move on to

what are other struggles?

51

:

When things get tough, we tend to ask

ourselves too, how can we continue

52

:

to be Christians in today's world?

53

:

this is the kind of doubt and

uncertainty and the lack of

54

:

your strength in the faith.

55

:

That can eventually lead you to sin

and to go back to your old ways.

56

:

So yes, the world is tough.

57

:

Yes, there's a lot of

things going on around you.

58

:

There's a lot of people who don't

believe in God or Jesus, and they

59

:

do continue to lead a life of sin.

60

:

And these are all things that you

have to be awake for and you have to

61

:

know, you need to have that boundary.

62

:

In order to grow if you really want to.

63

:

but if you ever do feel that way,

that being a Christian, like how

64

:

am I gonna continue to do that

I did wanna share John:

65

:

it says, I have told you these

things so that in me, you may have

66

:

peace in the world, you have trouble

and suffering, but take courage.

67

:

I have conquered the world.

68

:

with that scripture, Jesus prepared you

for what's to come in your walk with him.

69

:

He said it many, many times and he

said it to his disciples as well.

70

:

He prepared them for everything

that was going to come.

71

:

And it's also that you're not surprised.

72

:

Jesus conquered it all.

73

:

If he can do that, everything

that he went through.

74

:

Not just, not just with Pharisees and

with the people of his time, but also the

75

:

pain, the suffering, and he was brought

back to life and he rose and he came back.

76

:

He can do something as simple as

helping you overcome whatever doubt

77

:

that you're having in the faith,

78

:

Now let's move on to things

that are the usual suspects.

79

:

I think that people tend to battle

with, swearing and saying bad words.

80

:

that for sure is still something

that I am battling with.

81

:

I just, you know, I love saying

a good curse word and as dumb as

82

:

that sounds, sometimes it just

fits and you just have to say it.

83

:

But now I feel more convicted every

single time I do it, and sometimes

84

:

even as I'm texting before I say.

85

:

Af, and you know what that means?

86

:

I'm not, I'm not gonna say it, but

if I say I'm tired af I even catch

87

:

myself and I'm like, okay, no, no, no.

88

:

I'm tired and I just end

up putting like I'm tired.

89

:

Um, do I do that always?

90

:

No, we're still, we're still human.

91

:

We're never going to

be as perfect as Jesus.

92

:

But I do find myself sometimes

struggling still with swearing.

93

:

Um, but back to things that a

lot of people tend to battle.

94

:

Swearing, anger, laziness, sex

before marriage is a big one, a big

95

:

one, especially in this generation.

96

:

just lust in general.

97

:

Uh, pride.

98

:

Well, gluttony also, I mean, I guess

for me, gluttony, if you listen to

99

:

episode one of food addiction, that's

definitely one of the things that

100

:

can lead you down to food addiction.

101

:

You just want more and more and more.

102

:

but like I said, I'm not perfect.

103

:

No one's perfect.

104

:

We will never be as perfect as Jesus.

105

:

But anyway, so these are just some

common things that I think a lot of

106

:

people really do tend to struggle with.

107

:

I just wanted to share those

because I know for sure that

108

:

we are not alone in that.

109

:

I wanna move on to one of the biggest,

biggest things that is making it

110

:

harder for people to continue to

believe in Jesus and stay strong in

111

:

the faith, and that is the spiritual

warfare that people deal with.

112

:

Now, when I say spiritual warfare,

it sounds so intense, and there can

113

:

be spiritual warfare in your life.

114

:

when it comes to food addiction and,

people just wanting to have sex with

115

:

multiple partners and that, that's

a sort of spiritual attack, that

116

:

you have a spirit of lust, a spirit

that you have in your life that you

117

:

need to learn how to combat because.

118

:

Those things will eventually

grow and fester within you

119

:

and grow to different things.

120

:

So it's really important

to try and tackle that.

121

:

And I wanted to share some scriptures,

not just to, make you aware, that they

122

:

are in the Bible, but so that you can

keep them in your arsenal and be aware

123

:

that there is a spiritual enemy out there

124

:

To just grab at our souls and constantly

entice us and tempt us with all of

125

:

these things that are going to be

pulling you further away from Jesus.

126

:

So it's important that you

don't allow that to happen.

127

:

and now to jump into those scriptures,

the first one is second Corinthians to 11.

128

:

It says, so that we may not be

exploited by Satan for we are

129

:

not ignorant of his schemes.

130

:

we need to be aware.

131

:

That basically says we need

to be aware so that we are not

132

:

taken advantage of by Satan.

133

:

Now the second one is Ephesians six 12.

134

:

For our struggle is not against flesh

and blood, but against the rulers,

135

:

against the powers against the world,

rulers of the darkness against the

136

:

spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.

137

:

Now, I'm not too privy

to how Satan came to be.

138

:

Satan.

139

:

I know that he was a fallen angel.

140

:

He was rebellious, and he's skimming.

141

:

And the earth now.

142

:

So please do not, you know,

rip me apart for that.

143

:

Don't quote me on that.

144

:

But I do know that he rebelled against

God and he is now trying to do his

145

:

ways here on Earth, and he wants to

pull you away from God and from Jesus.

146

:

So just know that your struggle

is not always against yourself,

147

:

but against these spirits.

148

:

the enemy.

149

:

so now I want to jump into.

150

:

First John chapter three,

verses 19 through 21.

151

:

And by this, we will know that we are the

truth and will convince our conscience

152

:

and his presence, that if our conscience

condemns us, that God is greater than

153

:

our conscience and knows all things.

154

:

Dear friends, if our conscience

does not condemn us, we have

155

:

confidence in the presence of God.

156

:

Now I wanna break that down because

there was a lot of words in that one.

157

:

But, what this scripture, first John

chapter three, 19 through 21 means

158

:

we need to know that our conscience.

159

:

Can condemn us, and sometimes it's

just us being human, we need to have

160

:

faith that God is greater we need

to be very, very aware of what's

161

:

going on around us so that we can a

hundred percent stay in the faith.

162

:

And just in all honesty, if you stay

in your Bible and you read the word,

163

:

you're gonna know the difference

between things of the world.

164

:

And what's going on around

you versus spiritual attacks.

165

:

so again, I say all of these

things because I want you to

166

:

know that you're not alone.

167

:

the Bible says it won't be easy.

168

:

Many of the people that are

named in the Holy Book also

169

:

dealt with their own struggles.

170

:

we all deal with our own struggles, but

you can go back and just see so many of

171

:

the people mentioned in the Bible and

all of the things that they went through.

172

:

And it wasn't just for a

few months, a few weeks, no.

173

:

These people endured attacks from

people and their time and even.

174

:

People that they loved

but they always had faith.

175

:

And as long as they had the

faith, they were rewarded.

176

:

Or they were rewarded when they went

to heaven and they were with Jesus and

177

:

with God, which is the ultimate reward.

178

:

God can transform and he can

transform even after we struggle

179

:

and we can't forget that because

when we are struggling with things.

180

:

we are being prepared, we are being

made different in that struggle so

181

:

that we can come through it even

better, and we can only do that if

182

:

we continue to have faith in him.

183

:

So the first person that I wanted to.

184

:

Talk about briefly is Paul, whose

name was then changed to Saul.

185

:

So I looked into him a little bit and

he's a curious person in the Bible

186

:

because he actually persecuted Christians.

187

:

At first he was against Jesus,

he was against all of them.

188

:

And then.

189

:

One day he was walking down a road

to Damascus and he actually came

190

:

across, or so they say he came across

the risen Jesus Christ, and after

191

:

that encounter he believed so much.

192

:

His faith grew so, so much that he

became an apostle and he started sharing

193

:

the gospel and the word of Jesus, and

he essentially became an apostle for

194

:

the very early church at that time.

195

:

So even though some people

would argue that it didn't

196

:

happen I don't believe that.

197

:

I believe that something as a crazy

encounter with him walking down that road.

198

:

Is enough to change a person's

perspective that much.

199

:

And it's real because I know that

it has been so real in my life, the

200

:

change that I have experienced that

how can that have not been real?

201

:

But, the other person that I wanted

to touch on, I actually thought was

202

:

so interesting because I've seen

so many things like this nowadays.

203

:

and it's Samson and Delilah.

204

:

Now, this happened a few days ago

where that CEO, I think his name was

205

:

Byron, or uh, last name was Byron.

206

:

But anyway, they were at the Coldplay

concert and he was cheating on his

207

:

wife with the HR manager, director,

whatever, of his company, and.

208

:

When they called him out on

the big screen, they hid and

209

:

Because now that went viral.

210

:

his wife found out, the entire world

knows it's literally everywhere.

211

:

this man was brought down by this woman.

212

:

I mean, in her life too, is

also coming down in shambles

213

:

because of, of that relationship.

214

:

But if I'm comparing it to Samson

and Delilah from the Bible,

215

:

it's very similar to me because.

216

:

Samson was brought down by Delilah

and just like that guy, Byron, or

217

:

whatever his name is, uh, sorry, I

don't have the name handy with me.

218

:

I just thought about it on the spot, but.

219

:

He was brought down by

that woman and that affair.

220

:

And Samson is similar in the sense

he was born, an Nazarite his hair

221

:

gave him great strength and when

he was younger, he needed to take a

222

:

vow to abstain from certain things.

223

:

and it was going to be a

sign or devotion to God.

224

:

He was granted supernatural

strength by God.

225

:

and he famously used that to fight

against the Philistines, which

226

:

were Israel's enemies at the time.

227

:

Now, Samson and Delilah somehow

got intertwined and Delilah was

228

:

part of the, uh, Philistines.

229

:

So obviously they could

not get caught, but.

230

:

When the Philistine, ruler saw that

Delilah was having a relationship with

231

:

this great, powerful, strong man, he

wanted to take that as an opportunity to

232

:

discover the source of Samson's strength.

233

:

They bribed Delilah in order to

do that, to discover his secret.

234

:

And Samson unfortunately fell.

235

:

Into what Delilah was doing and whether

it was through lust or they had sex.

236

:

I don't know what that was.

237

:

they had a relationship and he

fell into that temptation instead

238

:

of continuing what he knew his

purpose was as a born nazarite.

239

:

sorry if I'm butchering that NA, right.

240

:

but instead of continuing in that

path that he was given from God,

241

:

which was to fight for the Israelites.

242

:

He fell into that temptation and his

head was shaved or his hair, was cut

243

:

off, while he slept he became powerless.

244

:

He was captured, he was blinded

and He fell to his temptations.

245

:

that's why I wanted to compare that

to the story of that, CEO and his

246

:

HR director, lady, whatever she was,

because people give into this lifestyle

247

:

and at the end, because it's not.

248

:

The proper way that God had set out for

us to do things, it's not gonna end well.

249

:

And we need to understand that

we need to follow as much of

250

:

a righteous path as possible.

251

:

And of course, I go back and I say

that I am not perfect in any way.

252

:

In any way, but I am

recognizing now my flaws.

253

:

I am being convicted.

254

:

Enough to know that I need to do

better, and that's because I continue

255

:

to have my relationship with Jesus.

256

:

But it's still hard.

257

:

It's still so hard every day.

258

:

It's a fight.

259

:

Every day.

260

:

It's a fight, and it's going to continue

to be a fight, and we are going to

261

:

continue to deal with these things.

262

:

So we just need to always

go back to the beginning.

263

:

We need to pray.

264

:

We need to stay in our Word, and we

need to just continue to seek Jesus.

265

:

in my walk with Jesus, one of the things

that first hurt me the most was how people

266

:

turned away I say that because you are

going to be shocked how many people roll

267

:

their eyes whenever you talk about church.

268

:

Roll their eyes.

269

:

Whenever you talk about reading the Bible.

270

:

Roll their eyes whenever

you talk about Jesus.

271

:

Or even say that you're a Christian.

272

:

And I did feel that in

my family for a while.

273

:

Um, my own mom, you know, one day in

our family group chat just kind of

274

:

said, in Spanish, oh, and essentially

what that means is as if I had taken

275

:

the church life so seriously that

I'm making it such a big deal and.

276

:

They don't know this version of me.

277

:

So they are shocked.

278

:

Well, they were shocked.

279

:

Now they, now they see that I'm serious

slowly but surely, becoming a different

280

:

person and in my opinion a better person.

281

:

But anyway, um, but they were shocked

and people will be shocked because

282

:

people will know that version of you

for so long that it is impossible

283

:

for them to understand how.

284

:

You have become this way.

285

:

And I will say that I know the difference.

286

:

I can see the difference and

feel the difference in myself

287

:

with Jesus and without Jesus.

288

:

And they will too.

289

:

And it's gonna be very difficult

for some people to accept that.

290

:

And that might just be the most

difficult part of your journey

291

:

because the doors will shut,

those relationships will crumble.

292

:

And if they have to let them, friends

are gonna say, you've changed.

293

:

And of course, of course I've changed.

294

:

God transforms.

295

:

You need to die to your flesh if

you don't make any changes, if you

296

:

don't try to be more like Jesus.

297

:

And what are you doing?

298

:

Like Pastor Anthony Mitchell from 2019

Church, he says, you're playing church.

299

:

You're not here to play church.

300

:

You are here to not go to hell.

301

:

You're here for the ultimate gift from

Jesus, and that is living a life with

302

:

him, an eternity with him in paradise.

303

:

But you could only do that if you

continue to die to your flesh day to day.

304

:

And with that, I wanna share.

305

:

Additional scriptures, because

these are just, they're just so,

306

:

so well woven into this topic.

307

:

but I'll let you listen The first

one, Romans chapter 12, verse two.

308

:

Don't be conformed to this world, but be

transformed by the renewing of your mind.

309

:

So that you may prove what is the good,

well pleasing and perfect will of God.

310

:

Now, just like I said, you have

to not conform to the world.

311

:

You have to be so transformed by what

Jesus can do for you so that the world can

312

:

see that he is real, and he is so true in

his words that look what he did for you.

313

:

Look how he changed.

314

:

You.

315

:

Make it so big that people can't deny him.

316

:

The other scripture, two

Corinthians chapter five, verse 17.

317

:

Therefore, if anyone is in

Christ, he is a new creation.

318

:

The old things have passed away.

319

:

Behold, all things have

become new and man, oh wow.

320

:

Um, I'm getting a little emotional.

321

:

Oh gosh.

322

:

If my best friend here says she's gonna be

like, oh, Sariah, you're such a cry baby.

323

:

You cry all the time.

324

:

And honestly, in this moment, I

really do feel like it's the Holy

325

:

Spirit because I'm sharing this word,

326

:

and this is such an important word

because this walk is not easy.

327

:

Life is hard enough as it is.

328

:

Without God,

329

:

I just can't imagine how

people do life without him.

330

:

Anyway.

331

:

Okay, moving on.

332

:

again, that was Romans 12 two and two

Corinthians five 17, so please keep those.

333

:

Close to your heart if you

are on this walk with Christ,

334

:

because you are going to need it.

335

:

Maybe not from your friends and family

all the time, but you will need it.

336

:

And before I continue

talking and rambling,

337

:

Guys, at the end of the day, being

Christian is difficult, but Jesus did

338

:

not promise that it would be easy.

339

:

Like I said before, he did not

promise it was going to be easy.

340

:

He did, however, say and promise that

if you believe, if you have faith

341

:

and declare he is Lord, that you will

have eternal life with the Father.

342

:

And one beautiful example of His love

and grace also showing this promise

343

:

to you guys, that while no matter.

344

:

No matter how hard life gets,

he still comes through for you.

345

:

Right before Jesus's death, before he was

crucified with the two other men, one of

346

:

them mocks him and then he's crucified.

347

:

But the other man repented and he

disagreed with the man that was

348

:

mocking Jesus and the scripture.

349

:

Um.

350

:

uh, gosh, I'm getting like so emotional

that I can't even talk, but that

351

:

scripture is Luke 29, verse 39 through

43, and I just wanted to share it because

352

:

what Jesus can do for you is going

to be so big in your life that

353

:

you cannot turn away from him.

354

:

'cause when you truly feel what

he does for you in your heart.

355

:

And As much as the world tries to

change your view, you shouldn't do it.

356

:

And Jesus shows his love in this moment,

right here as he was being crucified.

357

:

So Luke 2339 through 43.

358

:

One of the criminals who was hanged,

insulted him saying, if you are

359

:

the Christ, save yourself and us.

360

:

But the other answered and rebuking him

said, don't you ever fear God seeing

361

:

you are under the same condemnation.

362

:

And we indeed justly for we receive

the do reward for our deeds.

363

:

But this man has done nothing wrong.

364

:

He said to Jesus, Lord, remember

me when you come into the kingdom.

365

:

And Jesus said to him.

366

:

Assuredly, I tell you today,

you will be with me in Paradise.

367

:

So yes, my friends, life is hard.

368

:

The world is harsh.

369

:

Our purpose may not be clear to us what

Jesus and God have in store for us, but as

370

:

long as we have faith, we remain steadfast

in Christ, our reward will be great.

371

:

So do not fear.

372

:

Do not fear this modern day persecution,

that we constantly have to endure.

373

:

Don't fear it.

374

:

Stay strong in it because one day you will

no longer need to fear what comes after.

375

:

And paradise awaits.

376

:

I hope this has blessed you.

377

:

I thank you for listening until the

next episode, my friends take care.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for I Can't (HE Can)

About the Podcast

I Can't (HE Can)
All things life, lessons, Love.
Hi y'all! Welcome to I Can't (He Can) - a down to Earth and honest podcast about life's high's, lows, and everything in between.

From childhood experiences, to dating, raising kids, a career, and marriage - to unpacking all relationships and (very personal) daily struggles - join me as I share my journey discovering that when, I can't... He can.

Each episode is rooted in the Bible and how God's Word gave me the strength (and the hope) to endure all parts of life. So - if you're not sure where your faith lies or if you're looking to grow closer to Jesus, while finding encouragement for your own walk, this is the space for you.

About your host

Profile picture for Sarai Collado

Sarai Collado

To whoever reads this:
I'm glad you're here and I hope you stay a while. There is something I need to give back to the world - and to you.

That 'something' is my story, my life and my words that were once marked by pain, but are now marked by love and a new found faith in Christ. But hold it right there! Do not be quick to judge. While the root of all my talks are founded in the Bible - do not mistake what I have to say for 'unremarkable' or 'not relatable'.

My story is different than yours. However, if there is one thing we 100% have in common, it's that God has always been with us. If you agree - stick around. If you DON'T agree - stick around too. Let me show the unbeliever, the doubter, and the unsure person, how God has always been there.