When it comes to life’s challenges, struggles and tough times….all you really need to know you can learn from Noah’s ark: Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.–Don’t forget that we’re all in the same boat.–When the doo-doo gets really deep, don’t sit there and complain — shovel!!!–If you can’t fight or flee, float!–Remember that the ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals.– No matter how bleak it looks, there’s always a rainbow on the other side.
The truth is, difficult times-weave in and out of our lives. Some people present the Gospel as a way of saying we can leave all that behind by following Jesus. I disagree, it’s not even Biblical! Jesus tells us we WILL face difficult times! The difference is HOW we handle these times! Rather than allowing these rough spots in our lives to define us we can define them by responding positively and prayerfully.
James 1:2-8 (TNIV)
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
We can actually respond to trouble in our lives productively. As we intentionally look at the situation, as we turn in prayer to Jesus and ask “What do want me to learn from this? Help me to get through this and to learn, to move on. Lord, I want your will in my life. What do you want me take away from this? Help me endure. Help me to persevere. Help me to learn”.
Sometimes “WHY” we are enduring hardships, struggles or trouble may not seem readily apparent. But I have found that over time, we can usually look back and see the footsteps of Jesus beside us in those situations–strengthening us, helping us endure. “God IS our refuge and strength….an ever present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1)! And often…… we can look back and see the lesson…….. or how a certain situation helped us to grow in life spiritually.
We must always remember that the big issue here is not the struggles or troubles–the issue is our RESPONSE to them. Struggles and troubles reveal where our hearts are.
James 1:3-4 (TNIV)
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.