An Opportunity
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:1-2
Over the weekend, I attended a men's conference and listened to a speaker share his experiences overcoming significant challenges to serve in his church. This prompted me to reflect on how people handle adversity, and led me to compare those experiences with my own circumstances. My current situation while having challenges is relatively stable, as both my spouse and I are able to manage household responsibilities. I reflected on the challenges my mother faced while raising me during her illness, and her approach to these challenges without complaint, has influenced my perspective. It has encouraged me to view personal circumstances as opportunities for resilience and learning.
Many Christians frequently seek understanding from God regarding the challenges they encounter. However, it should be noted that this is not the only perspective from which to view the situation. We know God does all things for His will to be done, and that His plans are for our benefit. The narrative of Jeremiah recounts how God informed Israel that they would remain in Babylon for seventy years before fulfilling His promises. As stated by the Lord: “For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Thus our goal is not one of asking why we must suffer. It is one of seeking understanding of what God is preparing us for in the future.
Trusting in God’s plan for our lives requires both submission to His will and embracing of the journey toward enlightenment. Today’s verses remind us of Jesus and what He endured. Our suffering is but temporary, and while often painful, it always serves a purpose. Having seen my mother deal with her issues gave me greater perseverance when my wife and I dealt with hardships, and that helped us to better guide our children when they are dealing with challenges. 1 Peter 5:10 says, “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” This further emphasizes the importance of understanding that suffering is but a part of our journey. It does not mean life will be fair. The story of Job teaches us that. It does mean that we are to look to God and give thanks in all circumstances. It means that we are to persevere and move forward knowing that we have His grace, and we are to act with love towards others for He loved us first.
Our walk of faith is to resemble that of Christ. While we certainly do not have to endure the punishment of the Cross, we are to remember it as we endure our own trials. While we will suffer in this life, we will never suffer as He did, and as such, we push to endure knowing that our savior did so willingly for our sake. Is it any wonder that Paul would say “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Let us remember those words as we face our challenges knowing that it serves a greater purpose for both our and God’s glory. What steps can we take to develop greater endurance, strength, and confidence in God’s message of hope and salvation? How can we better trust in God’s plan in challenging times? My prayer is that we embrace our trials as opportunities to learn of God’s plan for our future. Amen.