In the Moment

I recently posted on my FB wall about wanting to leave a gym class 10 mins. after it started. In truth, it may have been more like 5, but whose counting?  I noted that even though it was hard - every week - I stay because just like life you never know how strong you are until you go through something. 

Raise your hand, stand up, and shout "I do!" if you like trials.  No one likes to go through trials and hardships.  Sure on the OTHER side of them you sometimes may feel like you cruised through it, but on the onset. . .  we're probably all sitting down.  I'll pass on all of the crying, the feelings of hopelessness and defeat.  No, I'm not a huge fan of trials, but I will confess that I am grateful for them. 

We could go through life without obstacles and mistakes that kick us in the behind, but how would we learn?  Imagine how many spoiled and out of control adults there would be if there were no trials to stop us in our tracks?  We need them.  Our character depends on them.  They are what shape us, build us, and mark us as individuals. 

Paul said, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us -- they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."(Romans 5:3-5, NLT)

Endurance, Strength of Character and Confident Expectation of Salvation. 

I've run into some heart crushing problems in my life and I expect that there will be more. I'm not going to leave or throw in the towel - even though I may want to.  I'm going to continue to endure and hopefully somewhere through the tears and pain I too will rejoice.