Life Wasn’t Meant To Be Easy
It’s through the challenges that we can experience new life.
Reference: “because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.” 1 Corinthians 16:9 NIV
Explore: “Life wasn’t meant to be easy.”
I’m not sure how true that statement is, but I do know we all go through times that are difficult and challenging.
In talking to a midwife she had many stories to tell of women going through labour. She spoke of breach births and complications but she also spoke of valiant efforts and heroic mothers.
Often, nearing the end of labour, the mother will want to give up. She’ll be exhausted and writhing in pain and will say she can’t do it any more.
It’s at that point the midwife knows the baby is almost there. With some encouragement from the midwife, and incredible strength from the mother, the baby will be born.
While the labour can be excruciating, the birth of a new life is exhilarating. What a treasure to behold after such an ordeal.
Application: Often when we hit pain or obstacles we question the purpose and see if we can work our way around it. But often it’s through the challenges that we can experience new life.
When Paul was writing to the Corinthians he spoke of opposition he was facing. But instead of running away from it he saw it as a great opportunity for effective work.
What an incredibly positive perspective when facing challenges. I wish I could always be so upbeat about opposition!
But Paul sets us a great example. Instead of us shying away from difficulties maybe we need to look at all seasons of life as an opportunity to express our work for God.
If we look at each time in our life as a God opportunity then our perspective will certainly move to align with Him.
Prayer: Lord, help us endure hardships. May You work through us in every season of our lives. Amen.
What challenges have you been through lately? What opportunities have they brought?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.
1 comment:
I lost my son 5 year’s ago he was 29, he contracted a rare Amoeba parasite known PAM,while swimming in a local beach, it travels up ones nose and basically eats your brain, there is no cure, he died a day later,his name was Waylon Abel I lost my world, but in his death he has made a huge did in this horrible amoeba parasite and brought to people’s attention, he was not known just a normal kid that had his moments some very bad but changed his life and was walking with our lord , and he wronged know one I felt blessed because at his funeral there were 100 of people that attended that helped our family gain strength, but now they have written a book about him and this parasite,songs have been wrote and 5 year’s later his name is every where through out the world I feel so blessed but yet it’s the most horrible nightmare I go thru daily, Waylon was no better then anyone lived in a very small town here in souther In. In the country, had 3 children, and was a carpenter, and also a diesel mechanic , a normal man, but I guess during his life he had made a difference by the way he lived, so yes as his mother I feel honeed and blessed God choose him but it’s a challenge to face tommorow without him, the pain of grieve is absoulty deep,and now I have yet another challenge, my wonderful husband of 5 years that helped me love again has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that has also been spreed to a kidney and his adrenal gland.it’s been a year this coming Oct. And he’s doing wonderful, but I’m yet so fearful of the possibilities, so now the same challenge starts again with him and I’m still going thru the everyday challenge of my son, so please keep my family ,especially his brother Cody Abel and his children Faith,Gabriel,and Johnny Abel, his father John Abel ,and yes myself Annette Clarkm in prayer I beg, I feel like I’m falling and losing my faith ,7 feel like God is just picking on me. But if you want to really understand my life go to this site Waylon Abel National adovates for Amoeba Awareness, and see all the challenges I face . Sorry this has been a long comment just wrote what my heart felt, please contact me at my e mail or at this one LarryHill519311gmail. Sincerely Annette Clark