The longer that I have remained an Orthodox Christian, the more I have realized how difficult it is to live out the faith on a consistent basis. There are many barriers to doing so: our culture keeps sending us messages that we can only be fulfilled if we have the right body, know the right people, and think certain things that are often antithetical to Christianity. Our own will often gets in the way, desiring that which will destroy us and being averse to those habits and activities that are for our salvation. Our mental health is also an obstacle, with the stresses of family situations and depression often driving us insane.
What is the solution in the face of such hardship? There is only one: repentance. And this is not repentance that is only offered from time to time (although it is good to begin with that), but repentance that is offered to God moment by moment in an attempt to amend our lives with the help of the Holy Spirit for His glory. This is the type of repentance that takes several lifetimes to develop and will only be perfected in eternity.
This type of repentance is insitent on being lived out not in a series of moments, only marking fleeting instances of revelation or belief. Rather, the Orthodox faith is insistent upon it being lived out every day in order to transform ourselves unto the likeness of Christ. For Christ became man so that man may become like Christ.
Sometimes it is easy to follow Christ. At other times, it seems insurmountable. But this is the life to which we have been called. We are called to become partakers of the divine nature. We are called to become gods.
May God grant us His grace in this struggle.
Pray for me.