“Not only so, but we also glory in
our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;”—Romans 5:3
(NIV)
We all go
through temporary setbacks. Some of us get slowed down by a few pebbles along
the road of life. Others are continually dealing with boulders the size of
Hoover Dam. These rocks may be lifelong obstructions, too.
This article
is for those of us who can’t ever seem to move out of the path of the storm.
Here are some examples of what we might face:
- Our kid doesn’t just come home late a few times, he no longer believes in the religion passed down through generations.
- We don’t just get a few colds a year—and maybe the flu. We have one or more chronic medical/dental conditions that seriously limit our lives.
- Some of us deal with much more than occasional sadness. We live in a claustrophobic world of frustration, anxiety, and fear.
Sometimes
our circumstances can seem confusing and out of control. A person may feel
blocked from any progress, because she is used to constant struggle.
That’s when
we must all reach deep down inside to access a superhuman strength. This
unexpected power can be unfamiliar to individuals who deal only with an
occasional blip on the radar of life.
The Benefits of the Uphill Battle for
Success
Victory is a
process. Prominent entertainers and athletes usually endure “failure”,
mind-numbing training, and harsh negativity on the way to winning their gold medal.
As unlikely
as it may seem, opposition can bring about favorable results. Victories come only through
persistence. Let’s break it down into four areas:
1.
Dark Times Bring True Growth.
“Stars can’t shine without darkness.”—D.H.
Sidebottom
************
“Every worthy act is difficult.
Ascent is always difficult. Descent is easy and often slippery.”—Mahatma Ghandi
************
“If there is no struggle, there is no
progress.”—Frederick Douglass
************
“A kite flies against the wind, not
with it.”—Sir Winston Churchill
2. There’s an Underlying Purpose.
“Have faith in your journey.
Everything had to happen exactly how it did to get you where you’re going next.”--@InspowerBooks_
************
“Nothing in your life happens to you; it happens for you.”—Joel Osteen
3.
Obstacles are the Stepping Stones to
Achievement.
“Great spirits have always
encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.”—Albert Einstein
4.
We get Divine Help.
“…though he may stumble, he will not
fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” Psalm 37:24 (NIV)
My Conclusion
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers
and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the
testing of your faith produces perseverance.”—James 1:2-3 (NIV)
Some of the
strongest people I know are the former victims of abuse. They have been pushed
into the deepest, darkest pit imaginable--often by their own family members--and
they have risen out of it.
They are
phoenixes rising from the ashes. They are living proof of philosopher Friedrich
Nietzche’s most famous quote: “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”
Related Post
How are you persevering?
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