There have only been a few significant events in my life.  I don’t remember the day I was born yet that would be one of them.  But I vividly remember the day I was born again.  And I remember my wedding day.  There’s one other significant event that like to tell you about.

When I was first born again, one of my prayers was that God would give me gentle lessons.  I was such a wimp.  I felt like I had enough hard knocks in life.  They were of course, a result of my own sin, but I was bruised, and I wanted to be left alone to heal.  God answered my prayer.

I had been a Christian about a year.  I still smoked cigarettes, I still lacked victory over many sins, and I was extremely frustrated as a Christian.  I read and understood God’s word.  I had faith that God would give me rest from my enemies, victory over sin, the abundant life, peace and joy.  But so many things were not right.  I cried out to God.

“Why aren’t I growing as a Christian!”

I was driving home from work and literally in tears so much so that I had to pull the car over; I couldn’t see well enough to drive.  I wept; I prayed; and I cried out to God.

I demanded an answer, “Why aren’t I growing as a Christian!”

In a still, small voice God answered.  “Because you pray for gentle lessons.”

Now I wept with a combination of remorse and fear.  I felt remorse over the wasted years, my foolish prayer, my offense towards God, my fearful and selfish attitude.  And I felt fear because I knew what I had to do.  I had to trust God.  I had to allow him to do whatever’s necessary so that I may grow in Christ.  I was genuinely scared.  But I wanted to grow.

Sitting in the car, my eyes swollen with tears, I prayed.  “Forgive me for not trusting you.  I want to grow as a Christian.  I completely remove my request for gentle lessons and now ask that you would do whatever necessary that I may grow.”
I knew that that was the right thing to do, the right prayer, and that I could trust God.  I was both scared and excited.

I was surprised at the response.  God answered both prayers.  He did cause me to grow and he did it through gentle lessons.  My faith increased, my sin is decreased, and I was satisfied to be in Christ.

In first Samuel Chapter 22, shortly before King David died, he sang to the Lord.  In versus 26 to 28 he makes a comparison it finishes like this: “You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.”

Looking back, I see that I was not growing as a Christian for two primary reasons.  First of all, I didn’t trust God enough.  And second, I was very proud and wanted to do things myself.  I wanted control.  But Jesus is both savior and Lord.

I once worked on a military base.  Above the entrance was a phrase written, (I was told), in Latin.  When I asked what it meant, my friend smiled.  “This is one of the best facilities in the country.  The people here are very proud.  They wanted to convey that fact by the phrase, “It’s hard to be humble.”  They had someone translated it into Latin.  And that is what is what you see written above the entrance.  However, the translation wasn’t exactly correct.  What it actually says is, “It is difficult to submit.”  …Indeed.

Philippians Chapter 2 is one of my favorites.  It speaks of humility and obedience.  It is indeed hard to be humble but not because we are so good but because we are so proud.  And it is difficult to submit.  But I believe that our growth in Christ depends on trusting God and obeying him.  He is the good and gentle Shepherd.  And we must learn to trust him even the most difficult of circumstances.

I’ve always hated pain.  But now I must endure pain every day.  I cannot call this a gentle lesson. But God has showed Himself completely faithful and so perfectly loving for so very many years that I trust him completely even though I don’t understand my circumstances.  It just doesn’t matter.  Even when my pain is severe, it cannot compare to God’s glory.

I’ve been asked several times if I think that growth only comes through difficult circumstances.  I don’t know, but I won’t put God in any kind of box.  In other words, God can cause growth any way he wants.  The phrase, “no pain, no gain” may be true.  But then there is the phrase, “His pain, your gain.”

I think there is a potential for growth or bitterness because of difficult circumstances.  One can become angry and bitter and even give up on God.  But the Bible says, “delight yourself in the Lord.”  And though Heaven and Earth shall passed away God’s Word will not pass away.

“On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”   (John 6:60-61, 68-69)Where else can I turn? God alone has the Words of Eternal Life. I believe and know that Jesus is the Holy One of God.

Remember when you have difficult circumstances of God’s Word, His promise expressed in Romans 8:38-39:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”