Being Built By Tough Times

"Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, as do stripes the inner depths of the heart." Prov 20:30

"A man's steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way?" Prov 20:24

I found Prov 20:30 to be interesting during my reading today. It reminded me of the discipline that we need in life. As a parent to a young child, I see that she has a natural curiosity to touch everything and to explore. However, exploration is not always healthy. In order to keep her away from the things that I know could hurt her, I discipline her from time to time with a light spanking. As a parent, I am wiser and until she develops wisdom of her own, I must give her discipline.

Although we as adults won't get spanked physically, it is very true that most of us will all undergo difficulties. The realities of life, the slogging through difficult circumstances, shape us the most, do they not? Are we not steeped in character because we have experienced trouble with people or events? When we are young, we have courage, the ability to learn, and intellect, but we lack experience. Consequently, we come into situations as fresh-faced and minor things create stress. However, when we have years of experience under our belt, we weather storms with a calm that is developed from having undergone trials in the past. With this, we have a deeper realization of how big God is, and how small we are - we are less prone to evil. There is a toughness about us that comes through the journey and process. In short, we become wiser.

There are times when certain reality shows can be a blessing. Why? Because we get to see a bit into how the other half lives. How do people live when they have lots of money and very little cares in the world? They have problems, but they are of such a juvenile nature that it becomes comedic for us everyday people. Ultimately, what we are able to see is that people who do not undergo stresses, trials and hurts become weenies. Narcisstic, self important jerks that go through a fog of life in a fantasy land where they have little personal responsibility and do little good in life (other than giving us a public example of what we don't want to become).

There is a quality of character that the Lord seeks to develop in us. We don't know what the finished product will look like (though His word gives us a good description) and the journey is a mystery. Does any of us really understand or have control over the path that we will take?

I know many driven people, and they have carefully crafted their careers in such a way that they have attained very good positions in society. That is to their credit. However, can they really say that they know what the next twist and turn will bring? Yesterday, our family was almost hit by a car who got into an accident at night, and started driving away from the scene on the wrong side of a divided road. His car was smashed in the front and he had no lights. At the last minute I had to swerve to miss him because I couldn't see him. It all happened with my wife and child in the backseat. What if I had not missed him? - Even if I arrange my life perfectly, do I really know what the future brings?

But the Lord does know. When we accept His Lordship over our lives, we come under His umbrella. Life as it occurs around us is ultimately in His hands. Those that rebel, those that have denied Him live unprotected - on the precipice of Hell at all times. One slip and they go over the cliff for all eternity. Christians die, get sick, suffer, but ultimately we are promised Heaven. But even as Christians suffer, the dates and times of their deaths are in the hands of God. We will not go a moment before it is our time. In the meantime, our lives on Earth are being used to both develop ourselves and bless others.

Lord Jesus, thank You for invading the darkness of my life and walking alongside me. Thank You for being patient and pushing me to tough places and tough situations. I know they are all designed for a reason, and ultimately You are creating the man I was made to be. Please forgive me for the times that I have reacted poorly and have not shown good character. Please forgive me for the times when I have lashed out in stress rather than simply giving it to You in prayer - knowing that You know best and everything will be fine. I am glad to be humbled by my trials because I know they will never humiliate me - because I live for Your purpose now and not my own. In Jesus' name, AMEN.