Imagine that you’re walking along the beach one summer afternoon. As you approach a group of seagulls, something catches your attention. There, bobbing in the waves, is a bottle. Your curiosity gets the best of you as you walk out in the surf to retrieve it. A closer examination reveals nothing distinctive about the bottle, and you scan the horizon for the nearest trash can to dispose of it in.
Startled, you turn around to find a man standing in front of you. Odd; this stretch of beach was deserted a few minutes ago, you think. Before you can respond, the man continues what seems to be a rehearsed speech:
“I am pleased to let you know that the bottle you hold is special. It doesn’t look that way, but the individual who holds it is granted an unlimited number of wishes.”
You interrupt: “Wait. Are you some sort of genie or something?”
“No. I’m the caretaker of the bottle. The person who finds it is able to have the wishes.” Then he adds, “I should mention that the wishes may only be used by you, for your individual benefit. And you can’t wish for world peace or anything like that.”
(Job 1-2). However, it’s not fun dealing with any form of disappointment, heartache, grief, or despair.
The truth is, we will not be able to emerge from this world unscathed from trials and challenges. What would life be like if God was a ‘genie’ that granted all our wishes? We might enjoy it for a season, but eventually we would become miserable. The reason is simple: the situations we face in life are opportunities God uses to refine our character and attitudes into his.
It’s one thing to open a Bible, turn to Galatians 5:22-23, and memorize the ‘fruits of the Spirit’—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It’s another thing to show a coworker kindness after being falsely accused of something in the presence of your boss. Life is the testing ground for all the things we believe.
Take patience as an example. This character quality is one many individuals (myself included) have a difficult time mastering. In my case, it stems from something a youth director told me in high school: “Whatever you do, don’t ask God for patience, because he will put you in situations that will force you to be patient.” It almost seemed as if he was saying, “There’s got to be a better way to learn patience.” If there is, I haven’t found it yet, much less one that is free of suffering. Patience is more than just being able to endure gridlock during the afternoon commute. Instead, it’s a willingness to not allow situations or people to control the direction of your life.
When struggles do occur, we have a natural tendency to ask “Why?” because we want something different than what we’re currently seeing or experiencing. But is it wrong to ask a question like this to God? Absolutely not! Moses (Exodus 5:22), Joshua (Joshua 7:7), David (Psalm 10:1), even Jesus (Matthew 27:46) asked the Lord “Why?” questions. Even if the answers were not provided to them, each situation served to fulfill God’s ultimate plan—that all people would believe that Jesus is the way to an eternal relationship with him.
In addition to God’s plans, the apostle Peter understood something else about trials—there’s an enemy on the loose, trying to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting (see 1 Peter 5:8). The last thing the devil wants is to see God’s plans for a person fulfilled. As a result, he will do anything he can in our lives (and those around us) to get us sidetracked. However, Peter says that we can withstand these attacks because we know other followers are struggling as well (see 1 Peter 5:9).
As he concludes his note, Peter adds a comforting thought: “But may the God of all grace, who called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Peter 5:10 [NKJV]). God’s work in our lives is not in vain. He will take the challenges and hurts and transform them into a distinctive work of art.
In the final analysis, there is a reason for everything that happens (see Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). We may not be able to see immediately the reason(s) for them, but we must consider each situation in life an opportunity to become more like Jesus. Yes, there may be pain and suffering involved. But the end result will be better than anything we can wish for.
My prayer is that you would take time today to talk to God about the struggles you’re facing and allow him to refresh you. And as he does, may you, in turn, refresh others.
—CS Lewis1
“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
—Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)
1 Lewis, CS. The Problem of Pain. Macmillan, New York NY, 1962: 47.
All material copyright 2006 J. Alan Sharrer. No part of this message may be reproduced—other than the forwarding of the original, unaltered message—without express written permission.
