I went for a run on a very windy day recently. As I had to literally lean forward into the wind in order to keep moving forward, I had a powerful vision.
I saw myself leaning into a gale force wind and the resistance was intense. It was so strong that at times I went down to my knees. Yet each time I was able to rise again and start moving forward. The wind was intense, but I was relentless as I moved forward undeterred. Then I heard God say, “This resistance creates strong muscles within you. This resistance is for your own good. It’s to create strength within you.”
Some might argue that a life free of problems and devoid of resistance is much easier, if not completely desirable. Some might say that if God loved us, then He would allow us to navigate life without having to face opposition. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, God assured us that we would have trouble. But He left us with the encouragement that He has overcome the world.
Our lives are filled with the specific kind of resistance that God knows will build the right spiritual muscles within us, so that we can face the challenges He knows we will have. He is like the ultimate trainer. When some people moan that they don’t understand why this or that keeps happening to them, I see it as an opportunity to train spiritual muscle. God knows what we need. Just like a trainer at the gym, sometimes we won’t like the type of exercise we’re being asked to do, but if we trust the trainer we will do it because we know it’s building the muscles we desire and it’s keeping us fit.
God works in a very similar way. We can trust Him to give us the exact “work-out” we need in order to build the proper muscles for us the face life’s challenges.
Prayer Moment: Do you find yourself resisting God’s training, or do you meet the day to day challenges with a trust of God that allows you to learn and grow every day? It’s never too late to make a decision to trust your Trainer.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:26-27
365 Days in the Presence 