Points to ponder.....

I think humanity collectively wonders, why do bad things happen to us? Why us? Why do I have to struggle? Why do we have such a hard time getting ahead? Why can't we catch a break? When will it be our turn to prosper? When will something go my way? Why does God allow bad things to happen to me? (I suppose just those who believe in God will wonder this last thought). I've wondered myself, why so much struggle in life? Why so much hardship?

The answer is pretty simple. We're fallen people in a fallen world. The original sin by the original man and woman have set us all on this course of sin and hardship, there's really no getting off it now. Struggle and strife are built right into the human experience. But, for those who believe in Christ and in salvation through Him are given these little tidbits to hold on to when times are tough. Little silver linings. Your struggle and hardship have purpose, and like all things worked through God, they can do good in our lives if we have the right attitude. Here are two I found this evening:

1 Peter 1:6-7

6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.
7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

James 1:2-4

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

These pieces of scripture actually suggest that we rejoice in our hardships! The audacity ;) Rejoice in hard times, celebrate struggle, because they provide opportunity to endure, to strengthen our ability to adapt in all circumstances, they allow us the chance to prove our faith. They give us the means and the opportunity to lean on God and show our dependence on Him, which is of course, quite pleasing to Him.

So, when hardship knocks on your door, which it most certainly will at some point, don't fear or distress. Endure it. Rest assured that it will strengthen you and be a test of your faith, a chance to prove your faith is strong and that you trust in God to take care of you. Each struggle is a change to grow in faith, and that's a good thing.

That's a lot to process, as many matters of faith our to my little human mind and its limited human understanding, but its worth considering.

Katie