By Chris WittsFriday 22 Nov 2024Morning Devotions with Chris WittsFaithReading Time: 1 minute
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Transcript:
Back in 1978 the late American psychiatrist and author M Scott Peck wrote the significant book called The Road Less Travelled. It became his best known work and is still being published today. The book is, in short, a description of the attributes that make for a fulfilled human being, based largely on his experiences and his interactions with people.
Through his work as a psychiatrist, Scott Peck was a Christian and his faith was a definite influence, and his most quoted words are these: life is difficult once we face that fact, once we truly know life is difficult, then life is no longer difficult because once it is accepted the fact that life is difficult no longer matters, it’s then we can transcend it.
Tackling life
I think they’re fabulous words. Are you wrestling with the struggles of life knowing that changing your circumstances is not one of your options? You’re not alone. The difficulty of accepting life as it is, rather than as was expected, is the reason that few choose the road less travelled, the place where we face life on life’s terms. Yes, life is not always easy and straightforward. It is complicated, demanding.
We know that it can be easier for some to accept that reality. But for others it becomes a daily worry, and it could include issues like financial, family problems or health difficulties. We may have been treated unjustly or made poor decisions in our youth. And like the weather, some days in our lives are nice and sunny. Others are dark and cloudy. Stressful circumstances, negative thought patterns and not having a support system or friends are common reasons.
Many say life is difficult. I think there is another way to think about those three words. Life is hard by adding a few more words, and they are – life is hard, but I can still trust in God who is in control, and that will give us another and better concept. It’s not denying that life is hard, but it adds that God will be by our side to help us make sense of life. We don’t know what the future holds, but when we give our lives to God, he can be trusted with our future.
Regardless of how difficult it feels or how many struggles you face, you can trust him to bring about good in our lives, regardless of how tough it is. We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can control how we choose to respond. And in those moments when I choose to stop complaining and instead give thanks to God for the good things in my life, the parts that seem bad start to seem less significant.
Choose to keep a positive attitude and a thankful heart, regardless of what you’re going through. Can you remember this morning that your struggles always lead to strength? Every difficulty in your life, whether big or small, is something that God will use to produce more strength, faith and perseverance in you if you let him. Strange as it may sound, all the pain that you have has a purpose because it says in Romans 8:28 – We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
God’s timing is always perfect. God’s plans are almost always different from our plans. Have the patience to wait on his timing instead of forcing your own, because the Bible says, I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Remember that God will never leave your side.
You may feel like you’re going through this struggle all alone. But from that moment that you ask Jesus to bring you into God’s family, he’ll be there by your side. We must remember that we live in an imperfect world. These difficult times we face are not brought on by God. Don’t blame Him. But often he uses these moments as means of producing a lasting strength and growth in us, which will carry us through other difficult times ahead. Being happy in life will involve rising above the difficulties through prayer and perseverance. It is Jesus who holds the answers.
Let’s Pray
Yes, Lord, no one’s denying that it can be hard and is hard. One day it can be worse than others. But, Lord, we don’t want to live as people left forlorn and alone. You have reminded us that you’re with us every second of the day and night and that you’ve got plans for us. Wonderful plans that we may never have conceived of. Give us faith to believe, I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.