“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” – James 1:2-4
Today, we are on the second day of a three-day series looking at how life is like a race. If you have read Paul’s various writings, you know that Paul viewed life as a race. Paul was on to something here, as life really does compare quite nicely to a race.
Like a race, there is a beginning, middle, and end. So today, we are going to look at the middle. Yesterday, we talked about the beginning. Where is the beginning? Where your feet are! The beginning is where most are right now.
Most people haven’t started their race. They haven’t been living a life pursuing God’s plans and purposes for them. But maybe you have been. Maybe you are saying, “Pastor, my race started a long time ago. I have faithfully been living God’s plan for my life, but it’s just so hard. There are so many challenges and hurdles in my life. I just don’t know what to do.”
If that is where you are in your race, I want you to know that you are not alone! Everyone who pursues God’s will goes through hurdles. Being faithful to God doesn’t make you immune to challenges and tough times.
Being faithful to God is not always easy. It never has been and never will be. James 1:2-4 tells us this, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
God allows troubles to come into our lives because it is an opportunity for growth! You might not be able to get where you are going without the growth life’s hurdles will bring.
So do not be discouraged. God uses those hurdles to prepare us for what is next. Instead, embrace the hurdles and let God do what only He can do! Every hurdle has its purpose. Will you continue to run the race long enough for Him to reveal that purpose?