Gifts From God: Devotions From Time of GraceSample

God's Personal Gifts: Struggle

After a particularly severe hurricane ravaged the Gulf Coast, I heard a radio commentator mock those who believed in “intelligent design” in the universe. His point: “How could an intelligent, and supposedly compassionate, God allow all this suffering?” Why indeed? For that matter, why would God allow your heart or your health to be broken?

Hardship is not necessarily bad. Pain is sometimes therapeutic. Struggle can be God’s gift. St. Paul wrote, “I urge you, brothers, by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me” (Romans 15:30). Paul had to wait. He had to work hard. He had to endure frustration, abuse, and broken plans. But all of those things made him a better missionary and communicator, made him more believable and real to others who knew pain.

Great on paper but hard to do, right? But let’s face it--muscles never get stronger in a Barcalounger. Mental toughness does not come from vacation days. Sometimes we need tears in our eyes to pray, “I need you, Lord,” and mean it.