Illustration paper- October, 25, 2010

The hard way

I have learned many things the hard way. I believe that in order to learn a lesson that actually sticks, one must go through some challenges and trials. James 1:2-3 says, “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for Joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow…” Endurance results in a strong character. By this, we know that trials are necessary for growth.

The first major trial I had to endure was that of losing my younger brother to cancer. This event sent me on a hopeless spiral that seemed to only end in defeat, until I found hope. Had I not gone trough that horribly painful time, I would never have sought out the afterlife, therefore, I would never have found Christ. That experience also taught me to be very sturdy, enabling me to hold up rather well in tough situations. My strength then provided me with boldness to get myself out of rather dangerous situations. I found salvation and strength the hard way.

Although strength is a good quality, unless it comes from Christ, it can cause you to become very hardened and un-teachable. Because of my “strength,” I never allowed myself to be weak, and when I do not let my weakness show, how will Christ be made strong? 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “’My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ may work through me.” As soon as I broke to the point of no longer being able to rely on my own strength, I realized that I needed God’s strength and not my own.

Balance is another hard lesson to learn, and I have definitely learned it the hard way. Like I mentioned, I learned the balance between strength and weakness by letting Christ be my strength through my weakness. That was balance: Accomplished. Another balancing act to perfect was that of my emotions. By being my own strength, I frequently lost control because my own strength wasn’t good enough. Christ taught me to control my emotions by showing me that no matter how much I stress, cry, worry, get angry, irritated or anything else, He is still on the throne, and in control, so why fret?

We, as human beings, run away from trials because we do not enjoy being uncomfortable. We also hesitate to give God control because we fear the unknown. But being uncomfortable in a time of uncertainty is what brings out the sin in our lives as well as lies from the Devil we are believing and just simple misconceptions about God. So I guess we must decide whether or not we want the character that comes from enduring the trials. It’s only by learning through experience that you can learn tough lessons at all, because of this, trials are necessary.