09Sep16

Acts 9:16
"For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."

Life isn't always rainbows and unicorns. I find it distinctly distasteful when someone says that being a Christian is going to bring you all the good stuff of life or solve all of your troubles. That's just not how it works. In fact, it may be quite the opposite. Sometimes there is suffering. Sometimes there is sacrifice. Sometimes life just plain sucks. What we cannot see is how that difficulty is changing us, the world around us, or our relationship with God. Paul spent his time traveling away from home being beaten, imprisoned, stoned with big rocks, and shipwrecked. He is probably the greatest spreader of Christianity to ever live and his life was far from easy. If you think life is easy, that you are doing "just fine," or can't see anything wrong then you may want to brace yourself because God may love you just the way you are. But, He loves you too much to leave you that way. When He stretches us it normally involves discomfort or even pain. Don't shy away from it. Embrace it as an opportunity to grow and change into the person He wants you to be. How is God using discomfort in your life to grow you today?