Grow Through What You Go ThroughSample

DON’T BE AFRAID OF STRUGGLE

No one likes to struggle or to see people they love go through struggle. But those who never struggle are not well-rounded people. I’d rather listen to the advice of a person who has struggled and come out the other side, than someone who’s never overcome anything.

Struggle builds character. It builds faith muscles. As much as we don’t like it, and wouldn’t wish it upon anyone, struggle makes us stronger.

Here’s an example. Have you ever watched a baby chick break out of its shell? It takes a long time – sometimes 24 hours! First, you see the egg start to wobble. Then a crack starts to form in one spot. After a while, a tiny beak peeks out of that spot – and it stops there for a while, panting. The next time you look at the egg, a few hours later, a little head is sticking out, its feathers all wet and matted, the little beak panting with effort.

After a couple of hours, the egg starts to wobble again, and very slowly the hole gets bigger and a baby chick's elbow pokes out. Then over time – wobble, wobble -- a whole wing is visible, all wet and yucky and fragile looking. And the little beak is panting.

About this time, you start to think, “Poor little chick! Someone needs to help it!” But….if you help that chick break out, it will die. Because in order to survive, it needs every single muscle that got developed while breaking out of the shell. It’s not easy – it’s a struggle. But it’s vital to their survival.

We, humans, are like that. In the natural, the way we build muscle is to push against weight – to push against something heavy, breaking down the muscle so the body can rebuild it, stronger than before. It’s not easy – it’s a struggle. In the spirit realm, the way we develop faith muscles is to push against trouble – to resist the devil using the authority Jesus gave us (Luke 10:19) until we emerge stronger than before. It’s not easy – it’s a struggle. But it’s vital to develop faith.

Don’t be afraid of struggle. Be determined! The Bible says instead to count it all joy when you go through trouble. Not because of the trouble, but because it’s another chance to watch the Word work -- to see the faithfulness and power of God -- to develop your faith muscles! When you go through struggle, picture yourself growing, overcoming, and coming out with the win, with your faith even stronger than before.