“Blessed is the man that endureth
temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the
Lord has promised to them that love him.” James 1:12 (KJV)
Most of us
have dreams or goals. Motivated people may have agendas for rising to the top
of their chosen field.
Do all ambitions
get realized? No. Is the purpose of blocked expectations to frustrate us and
make us quit? Not necessarily, although it may seem so at the time.
My last
article was about trusting the process. Metamorphosis follows necessary
pressure and pain. When we are “planted”
in the soil of adversity, we “bloom” as a new, improved creation.
It’s
difficult to see beyond present trials; that’s why a clearer perspective is helpful.
The Beginning and the End (Alpha and
Omega)
These are
the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. They’re familiar to members
of college fraternities and sororities.
As humans,
our vision is often limited to the past and the present. It takes a special
trust in God to see the ultimate victory, when we’re hampered by pain in the
middle of the race.
God’s vision
is perfect. He sees and understands everything. He is Alpha and Omega: the First
and the Last.
It’s also helpful
for us to have a more long-term viewpoint. I will illustrate this with the
following cases:
The Storm in Mark 4: 35-41
Jesus told
the disciples he wanted to go to the other shore of the Sea of Galilee. He had
no doubt they’d eventually get there, no matter what pitfalls came. The journey would be tough, but the end was
already written.
They went
out on the water, probably in a fishing boat. One of the typical, fierce storms
arose. The disciples panicked; Jesus slept. The disciples feared death, so they
woke Jesus up. He rebuked them for their lack of faith and calmed the tempest.
The Football Game
Joel Osteen
tells the story of watching the playback of a major-league football game. He
already knew the outcome of the game, but he wanted to see the actual footage.
His team was
the underdog. It went from bad to
worse. Joel Osteen had no idea how the
players would pull out of the pit, but they did. He was never anxious, because
he knew the outcome; his side
Construction
There are
all sorts of reality shows featuring amazing indoor and outdoor renovations. My
daughter and I enjoy watching Home and Garden TV. The designers and contractors
don’t consider the outdated, tiny living spaces; they’re thinking of the beautiful
end result.
Michelangelo
This artist/sculptor
was a protégé of the powerful Medici family. He set the bar for excellence in
the art world. The legend professed to
do his most iconic work by freeing the beautiful masterpiece inside the solid
block of marble. That’s strong
manifestation!
My Conclusion
I’ve heard
many speakers say something like this: “If you’re still struggling, your story
isn’t over.” That’s something to
remember when we’re going through heartache. It’s a hard task to believe
in a happy ending when our present reality is far from pleasant. That’s where
faith comes in.
“Now faith is the substance of things
hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”—Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
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