At various times in life we may have to endure hardship. Regardless of the intensity, God has a purpose in hardship. As a carpenter crafting a beautiful piece of furniture or cabinetry, hardship is how the LORD works us against the grain to create something beautiful for His ultimate purposes. He makes our rough edges smooth for His glory.
RELEVANCE
Paul spoke of his hardship. He didn’t speak from a place of shame, but on the contrary, of honor. In addition to being beaten, stoned and shipwrecked, He spoke of enduring “stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often” and living “in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness…” (2 Corinthians 11:23-27).
It might seem like he complained with such a laundry list stacked high with hardship, but in reality, he considered it a blessing. He got to hear the LORD’s point of view. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
He responded in an amazing way. “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
REFLECT AND RELATE
Write down your own laundry list. Place it at the feet of Jesus. Allow Him to minister to your soul. Nobody does it better. Ask the Holy Spirit for His comfort, and experience God’s true love, peace and joy.
REFERENCES
Isaiah 29:16