Building a Life That Matters for Good - the Quest for SignificanceIhe Atụ

Suffering and Trials Are on the Way

As we consider a life of significance and impact, there’s one more truth to learn: a great life includes not only joy but also suffering. Jesus didn’t gloss over this fact. He taught his disciples that their journey would not only include mountaintops but also valleys.

When Jesus was replying to his disciples’ request to be great, he warned them that they didn’t know what they were asking, and he foretold that they would suffer, as he was preparing to suffer. We now know from history that the disciples all suffered, and all but one were martyred for their faith.

Obstacles, difficulties, and struggles are a part of every human story. No one gets through life without trials. But the lives we consider heroic are the lives of those who persevere and overcome. Consider the stories that endure, that find a home in our hearts, and stir our souls. They aren’t tales of unbroken victories or unchallenged lives. No, the narratives that captivate us, that compel us to turn the page, are those of resilience, of characters who, despite faltering, rise to face the next challenge. These stories should mirror our walk with Christ—a journey punctuated by trials, but marked by perseverance, and sustained by strength from our Lord.

Jesus, our ultimate hero, exemplified this journey. He embraced the cross not as an outcome of defeat but as a passage to triumph and the joy that lay beyond. He invites us to live out this paradox as well: finding joy, not despite suffering, but even while passing through it. He invites us to follow Him and live a heroic life.

Jesus gives us an astounding opportunity to do something great—something significant with our lives. Will we accept this challenge? Will we join His adventure? Will we trust God and keep going even when it’s scary or hard? Will we persevere and find joy in the journey and a great reward ahead?

As we stand at the threshold of each day, we face a choice. How will we live out this day in the grand tale He’s authored for us? Our significance is not measured by the world’s fleeting accolades but by our readiness to serve, our steadfast pursuit of His calling, and our resilience in the face of trials.

Today, let’s reflect on the not-yet-written chapters in our lives. Let’s see our challenges as the very elements that enrich our story and sculpt our character into a reflection of Christ. Let’s embrace the day not as a mere sequence of hours but as an opportunity to contribute to the unfolding epic of faith, hope, and love.

Let us pray for the wisdom to see our lives as He sees them—not as a series of disjointed events, but as a beautifully complex story of redemption and grace—a story where each of us plays a pivotal role, guided by the greatest author of all.

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