Difficult Times, Growing Times

"In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.  And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, 'My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.'

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?  If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.  Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!  They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:4-11 NIV)

I still remember a world literature class I took in college.  On the first day of class, the professor lambasted students who had yet to purchase the texts for the class.  If they couldn't show more interest in the class, he said, they could find another to fill their schedules. He demanded those chewing gum immediately leave the class, saying he would not tolerate such impolite behavior in his class.  And he warned students, if they were going to be late to class not to bother to show up. When the class met again, a class of 25 had been reduced to 10.  

Nearly two-thirds of the original class decided it wasn't going to be worth enduring this professor's attitude for an entire semester, so they dropped the class.  Though no fan of world literature at the time, it was one of the best classes I took in college.  I learned about good writing, how to analyze what I was reading, and how to write well.  It was a very difficult course and the professor, though he lightened up a little after he was satisfied he had room full of students who wanted to learn, was very demanding.  But I know I learned so much because so much was demanded of me.

Most of us, if we had a choice, would choose the easiest path every time, whether it be through school, at work, or in relationships.  That is our human bent.  However, if I chart the growth periods in my life, the peaks do not come when things were the easiest, but when they were the most difficult.  

The Hebrews were complaining about how difficult their lives were.  They were being persecuted, sometimes quite severely, but the writer in essence tells them to "man up," to stop complaining and to realize the difficulties they are going through will help them to learn and grow.  It is the same counsel we need to embrace when times are tough.  Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves and whining about how rough we have it or seeking to avoid any path with the potential for difficulty, we need to embrace hardship as God's way of helping us to grow and to become more like He created us to be.  

Today, if you are experiencing some hard times, begin to ask the Lord what He wants to teach you through them.  While they may be difficult now, later you may look back and realize they were some of the best times for your personal and spiritual growth.

Jim Musser 2013