The Challenges of Life

 

We finally got our repairs finished and our new flooring in place this week. For those of you who are keeping track, it’s been two months since we had the water damage to our house. We’re still putting things back where they belong but at least the furniture is in place and we’re able to live downstairs again. Everything looks nice and we’re happy that we went ahead with the whole project. We know that we’ll enjoy our new flooring for years to come.

 

During the past few weeks, when we were living out of a few upstairs rooms with our household belongings heaped up around us, I started thinking about how we grow spiritually. I’d like my life to be a nice, pleasant upward journey without any challenges or detours, but that’s not the way it’s meant to be. The difficulties we face and overcome, whether they be small or large, strengthen us and form us into the people we were created to be. They remind us to place our trust in God and to rely on Him to lead us when the path is uncertain. To use an analogy, we don’t develop our muscles just going along without any exertion. It’s only when we stress them with exercise that they grow stronger.

 

Paul knew his share of trials and tribulations. He was able to write to the Romans, “We rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:3-5).

 

Let’s resolve to make our daily struggles a spiritual exercise program to grow stronger in the Lord.