No Way Out But Through

I hate the difficulties of life.

In fact, I hate them so much that I’ll do just about anything to escape them.

And I don’t think I’m alone.

Unfortunately those difficulties are guaranteed in this earthly life. “In this world, you will have trouble…” (John 16:33) Then Christ tells us to take heart because He’s overcome the world. Comforting words, but often not what I want to hear. Instead I want relief! And I want it now!

The apostle Paul also knew about those trials, and three times he asked God to remove his “thorn in the flesh,” “a messenger of Satan” sent to torment him. He didn’t get the relief and escape he prayed for. Instead he got this response: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

No Way Out But Through

To our earthly way of thinking, this often seems unfair. Why would our Creator God and Heavenly Father subject us to such trials?

Many reasons actually.

How will we ever know His power in our lives unless we’re forced to depend on it? How will we ever learn to fully trust Him unless we’re put in a position of having no other choice? How will we ever grow into Christ-likeness without the fires of adversity?

Sometimes, God does deliver us from life difficulties, but sometimes relief lies on the other side of the difficulty looming in front of us. Sometimes, there is no way out but through.

That is when we must endure.

“The word endure comes from two Greek words that combine to say, ‘to remain under.’ Endurance is that capacity to stay under the load, to remain in the circumstances, without fleeing or seeking the easy way out….There is one other thing we should notice about the word endure. It is not primarily a negative or passive quality. It does not mean that we submit ourselves to difficult circumstances with a spirit of resignation and defeat. The idea behind the word is that of a soldier staying in the heat of the battle, under terrible opposition but pressing forward to win a victory.” ~Gary Inrig

 

Father God, I struggle with difficulty. I shy away from it. But Lord, help me to endure in a way that pleases You, reveals Your power in my life, causes me to depend and wait on You, and makes me more like Christ. In His perfect name I pray. Amen.

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