Battle-Tested

When people sporadically go to the gym, they want to make up for the times they didn’t go. So they end up working out really hard.

The problem is they can’t walk the next day. They overdid it. They need someone to help them learn how to work out properly. Of course, building up muscle means tearing down muscle. You break it down to build it up, and then you get stronger. In time, you’ll develop more physical endurance and can lift more weight.

The Bible talks about another kind of endurance: “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” (James 1:2–3 NLT).

Everything you go through in life as a follower of Jesus Christ is preparing you for something else. God is toughening you up. He’s preparing you for something that is coming. He’s making you stronger.

You might be going through a difficult time right now. God is preparing you for something that is yet to come. So hold your course and know that God is at work. There’s no joy in the difficulty itself, but it is strengthening you.

God wants us to develop character. Justification is what God does for us, but tribulation and perseverance are what God does in us. God is getting you ready because you’re in a spiritual battle. There’s no getting out of it. And the objective is to win, not lose.

We need to look through our sufferings to the certainties and remember that God is at work.

Whatever you’re going through right now, remember that it isn’t a coincidence; it’s providence. It isn’t an accident; it’s an appointment. God is in control. And He’s going to see you through.