There are some lessons in life that we can only learn by walking down the painful path before us.
As creatures who prefer comfort, however, I think we are prone to missing a lot of these lessons. Why? Precisely because we are so obsessed with our own comforts that we will do everything possible to forgo dealing with the pain and struggles that come our way.
Now, before you write me off as some sort of sadistic nut case, let me say that I get it. I’m no fan of pain or struggle myself. When given the choice, I would gladly choose joy, peace, comfort, and security over their natural alternatives. 100% of the time!
But sometimes life doesn’t give us the choice. Sometimes our circumstances are not something we can get out of. Sometimes life is hard – or just plain sucks – and there is little (if anything) we can do to immediately change our present situation.
In times like these, one of the few things we do have some control over is how we respond. Whether we choose to face our fear and our pain and our struggle head on, or instead, choose to run and hide and wait for the storm to run its course.
Again, I can easily see the case for running and hiding and waiting it out. I mean, why make matters any worse. Right?! Why tempt fate? Why put God to the test???
And yet, what if the test is actually ours? What if, in the midst of our present struggles, God is wanting us to learn what we’re made out of? To explore the limits of our faith? To expose the truth of our character and any holes that might be found there?
Not that God is the cause of any of it… But that God might want to use our dark season as a sort of classroom. One where God invites us to be willing students in the midst of our present circumstances, and not helpless victims.
Now, as I’ve mentioned in a previous post, all suffering is not equal. There are definitely situations that can befall anyone of us, at any time, that are terribly horrific – and we should absolutely hope and pray for a quick deliverance.
But there are, and will again be, times when life is just hard or seemingly unfair – and we will be given the opportunity to choose to learn in the midst of the struggle. It is a brave and bold choice for sure. And it will not make it easier or more enjoyable as we walk that road. And we will not be guaranteed any tangible or noticeable rewards once we exit the season.
But I trust that in God’s own time we will reap the benefits of choosing to learn. Choosing to endure. Choosing to persevere.
That God will take our small efforts, that feel very much like big efforts, and multiply them for our good and his glory. I don’t know exactly what that will look like, in your life or in mine, but I trust that it will be a beauty unimaginable.
In this challenging season I have prayed that God would help me to not miss any of the lessons I have the chance to learn. At times it feels like a dumb prayer, a stupid prayer, even a self-destructive prayer.
And yet, I believe that God knows my heart, and my hope to have my faith stretched and strengthened as a result of bravely facing whatever comes my way.
I don’t if you can relate.
But I bet you can.
