Referencing
her challenges to lead a world-wide ministry, Mother Teresa once commented: I
wish God didn’t trust me so much..
Paul, on the other hand, almost seemed to brag about his
challenges. I encourage people to read 2
Corinthians 11:16-33 when they feel they are having a bad string of challenging
events in their lives. Most of us
haven’t survived shipwrecks, been left for dead, or secretly escaped over a
wall in a basket.
Though I do
not like to face challenges myself, I can see the benefit from the challenges
of life. I am stretched further than I
ever imagined. These days my faith is
growing to see that God can strengthen me to do far beyond what I thought I was
capable of. Through my challenges I stop
focusing on what I can do and open my heart and soul to what God can do through
me. It is true that, like Paul, I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).
From
Abraham to Joseph to Moses to David, challenges seem to be a way God prepares
us for the work He has for us on this earth.
A life without challenges is a life without faith. Challenges are necessary to grow the kind of
faith that believes God is good even when you feel the rug being pulled out
from under your feet.
For some, the challenge is to stay
focused on God when things are going along at an ordinary and expected
rate. In those days it can become even
more of a challenge not to get too caught up in the things of this world. It’s easy to think of God when you have no
human resources to turn to. When you are
feeling up to the tasks ahead, faith diminishes somewhat—faith can become more
of a challenge in good times than in bad.
I have
lessened my questioning and trying to figure out why I or those I love face so
many challenges when we are attempting to grow closer to God. I am beginning to see that God is doing a
good work in us by calling us to be greater than we are. God sees that there is more strength and
faith inside of me than I know.
It helps me
understand why Paul boasted about his sufferings. It wasn’t that he thought he was more loved
by God or that he was better than anyone else.
It was that God had done something in him that could only be God because
Paul himself understood that he was not up to the task. He was too weak to endure the challenges he
faced. He knew—it had to be God!
Challenges
are part of each day of our life. The
greatest challenge is to trust in God’s goodness and purpose every day. Whether you have an easy life or hard the
challenge is the same. We are challenged
to see God’s goodness and purpose for everything we do. The unchallenged life is not worth living.
Are you up
to the challenge?
Copyright © 2014.
Deborah R Newman teatimeforyoursoul.com
All Rights Reserved.
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