Day Twenty Five: Transformed by Trouble

What did you read today that was encouraging or convicting?

This is probably one of the most popular chapters in the book. Everybody has problems, and everybody knows people who have even more problems. At some point you wonder where God is in all of these troubles, and if good can come out of it. We all have an interest in knowing how God works to transform us through our troubles.

Here's the one paragraph that really hit home for me:

Every problem is a character-building opportunity, and the more difficult it is, the greater the potential for building spiritual muscle and moral fiber. Paul said, "We know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character."

I read that and remembered a bunch of tough stuff that's been going on in my life lately, stuff that has basically required a lot of patience from me. Instead of patient I could have been mouthy, or meddling, or mad, or start meandering down a different path. But I hung in there, and in some instances, the troubles have given way to a better scenario. Other situations, though, seem to require even more patience than I'm currently giving. And what does all this patience do for me? It's the primary definition of love, and it's a key component of character-building.

Enduring trouble is not the same as accepting bad behavior or ignoring evil actions. Enduring trouble is more about not giving up on doing good, persevering is pro-actively doing the next right thing in the face of resistance, patience is about not giving up on God prevailing. This is how to face trouble and build character: be patient.

This is good:

Since God intends to make you like Jesus, he will take you through the same experiences Jesus went through. That includes lonliness, temptation, stress, criticism, rejection, and many other problems. The Bible says Jesus "learned obedience through suffering" and "was made perfect through suffering." Why would God exempt us from what he allowed his own Son to experience? Paul said, "We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him!"

Here's a few more lines that I needed to read:

Life is a series of problems. Every time you solve one, another is waiting to take its place. Not all of them are big, but all are significant in God's growth process for you.

We learn things about God in suffering that we can't learn any other way.

Problems force us to look to God and depend on him instead of ourselves.

Corrie Ten Boom, who suffered in a Nazi death camp, explained the power of focus: "If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you'll be at rest!" Your focus will determine your feelings.

If you are facing trouble right now, don't ask, "Why me?" Instead ask, "What do you want me to learn?" Then trust God and keep on doing what's right.

Don't give up - grow up!