Does Anything Good Come from Hardship?
When we stand far off from a trial, we are quick to acknowledge that God uses hard times to change us. We agree that through difficulty He molds us and shapes us to be more like Him. But when we’re in the trial, we are reminded change does not come without pain. Without emotional struggle. Without wrestling or all-out contention with God for what He has allowed in our life.
As if our situation isn’t bad enough, now we wonder if God will let our difficulty linger as we try to figure out what He attempts to teach us? Why doesn’t He just come to our immediate rescue? Or prevent the hard altogether? When we serve a mighty God, why must we suffer at all?
The answer, at least in part, is sanctification. A hefty word, not heard around the water cooler, describing the process of gradual purification from sin, along with progressive spiritual growth. This work of God moves us toward holiness; His means of transforming us to better reflect Jesus.
So, yes, God will use our difficulties to shape us. But we need not worry or fear His work in us. He doesn’t throw us into a pit of trouble, then stand back at a distance to see how we fare. Watching to see if we sink or swim. Waiting impatiently for us to figure things out for ourselves. Expecting us to uncover some great mystery, or, through self effort, change ourselves.
Our loving God does not work in this manner. Not a demanding, disciplinary task master, He stands in our affliction with us. Offering His strength and power even as He points out responses and areas of our lives needing repentance. Comforting, even as He urges us to release into His hands the idols and false securities we grip with ours. Guiding, even as He chips away at areas of hardening in our hearts. Compassionate to our suffering, even as He exposes areas we have collected unholy muck that need cleansing.
God’s purpose always promotes goodness for us. He never dumps shame on our heads. He refuses to leave our side. He removes condemnation, offering instead grace and mercy. God pulls back the clouds of depression and mutes pain and sorrow during our strife, for times of refreshment and joy in His presence. He fights for us and prepares us to receive more and more blessing as we understand Him better and walk more closely with Him each day on this journey of purification.
Scripture explains this paradox: “We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary – we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” (Romans 5:3-5, the Message) Don’t you love that last phrase?
Therefore, though hard times are not something we relish in our flesh, our spirit does not fear. Like a rose, our heart learns to open tight petals of protection to receive the warmth and nurturing of the Son’s brilliant rays, as God’s Spirit works within us. For we understand that “when affliction is met with fortitude, out of the battle we emerge stronger, purer, and better and nearer to God.” (William Barclay) As we are transformed, we receive the very thing our hearts desire: to embrace the beauty and wonder of drawing closer to and more intimate with our holy, passionately in love with us, Heavenly Father.
Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash
