Life is filled with obstacles, challenges, walls to tear down, and vicious enemies. Most of the time it seems like the Lord is not interested in miraculously removing them quickly from our lives. Instead, the Lord tells us He is using these issues to mature us (James 1:2-4), refine us (1 Peter 1:3-11), and discipline us (Hebrews 12:5-11). He also simply tells us to learn to wait (Isaiah 40:28-31), trusting Him because He is going to work it out for our good (Romans 8:28). None of which most people are interested in hearing or doing. Many times, we allow our lives to become so absorbed with how difficult life may seem, that we only pray, instead of praying and obeying God’s Word. As we face the challenges in us and before us, we take the ‘’wait’’ to another level which is doing nothing for God. Instead of growing spiritually, experiencing wisdom, finding God’s strength, counting it joy (James 1:2-4), or viewing the issues as God loving us (“.. those whom the Lord loves He disciplines….. Hebrews 12:6), we become anxious, sometimes bitter, or resentful, angry, and depressed, believing that the Lord does not care about our prayer life, service to Him, or obedience to Him. We diminish ourselves to a routine way of life.
If you take a closer look at the life of Christ, what was there to be excited about? He was born poor, His earthly father most likely died when He was still young, His family thought He was crazy, most people only liked Him because of what He did for them (after all the thousands served after the resurrection, He only spoke to five hundred; 1 Corinthians 15:6), the spiritual leaders hated Him with a vengeance and He died on an old rugged cross at the age of thirty-three. If we had not physically seen Him after the resurrection it would seem like He was defeated; BUT!!!
A man stopped to watch a Little League baseball game. He asked one of the youngsters what the score was. “We’re losing 18-0,” was the answer. “Well,” said the man. “I must say you don’t look discouraged.” “Discouraged?” the boy said, puzzled. “Why should we be discouraged? We haven’t come to bat yet.” Citation: Stan Toler; God Has Never Failed Me, but He’s Sure Scared Me to Death a Few Times (Honor Books, 1995); submitted by Jerry DeLuca; Montreal West, Quebec, Canada.
No matter what obstacles, challenges, walls to tear down, and vicious enemies we may experience, we will have a turn up to bat if we remain on the field, keep the faith (Hebrews 11:6), and apply ourselves to the game (trials). If nothing changes in this lifetime, we will grow stronger in our faith and our rewards will be great. This is what Christ did (Philippians 2:6-11) and this is the example He left us (1 Peter 2:21-25). As overcomers He allows us to share His throne forever (Revelation 3:21-22); ‘‘He who has an ear, let him hear….’’