Enduring Life's Thorny Bushes

Have you ever noticed that, even in the Winter season, when rose bushes are dormant, they still have their thorns? That's how it is in our spiritual life as well. There are some trials that continue, even though we beg the Lord to remove them from our lives. Yet, somehow, in spite of this, God offers His grace that enables us to endure through them all.

People respond in various ways when going through tough times. Some will draw closer to the Lord, growing in trust and dependence on Him, while others will give up in despondency and frustration, sometimes leaving the faith itself.

How do you respond in your times of trial? Are you confident that the Lord knows what He's doing and will bring you through it, or do you begin to doubt that He loves you? If you can't see His hand working in the midst of your circumstances, do you still trust that He is doing so?

Many Christians would like to trust God in every situation they face but it's not always easy, Jesus didn't promise us a problem-free life. In fact, He said the complete opposite: "In Me, you will have peace. In this world, you will have tribulation."(John 16:33) This is what it is. However, if we can keep our focus on Him instead of our troubles and trials, we can indeed endure anything, thanks to His perfect peace. That is, a peace that passes all human understanding.

Paul, the apostle, endured suffering like no other person possible could, yet he never gave up on the Lord. At one point, he was so deeply tormented by his "thorn in the flesh" that he cried out to God in desperation three times to remove it. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), Instead, God's only response was: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness."

How would you feel if that was God's answer to your prayers? There'd be no change in your situation, only the grace to go through them. What if the issues you faced continued for years, or even got worse? Could you respond in the same manner as Paul did? Paul's response isn't what most people would embrace: "Most gladly, therefore, will I boast about my weaknesses so that Christ's power would remain within me."

Life's Thorns

Thorns teach us that God's grace is sufficient. When we are at our weakest, most vulnerable place, with no control over our situation, we must rely on the Lord and His strength alone. He always comes to our rescue. Sometimes He delivers us from the situation, and at other times, He chooses to dispense His abundant grace that will allow us the stamina and endurance to go through the trial for as long as He sees fit.

God's grace is His provision for us at the point of our need. Regardless of the length or magnitude of our suffering or trial, the Lord will strengthen us to walk through it with confident assurance.

Life's Troubles

Troubles are opportunities to learn how to be joyful and content. Paul had to learn about contentment. It had nothing to do with his circumstances but by him keeping his eyes focused directly on the Lord.

If we center our minds on the truths of God's Word, we will be able to accept every situation, every trial, every tribulation, knowing that He is sovereign and will be with us, by His grace, through them all.

Life's Difficulties

Difficulties trigger spiritual growth. Learning experiences happen, not in the easiest of times, but in the darkest, toughest, most harrowing of circumstances we face.

Valley experiences can bring us to our knees, in humility and utter helplessness. It is in these times that we realize that our only help can come from One who is more powerful and on whom we can solely lean upon and depend. We learn about God's character and His ways, and develop a deeper trust in His sovereign choices for our lives.

It's encouraging and a great relief to know that we can walk through thorny experiences in ways that can transform our lives, which will bring glory to our God. We have the promise of His sufficient, more-than-abundant grace and strength to handle whatever comes our way. So, let's trust Him, and allow each challenge, obstacle, trial or tribulation to become an opportunity to experience the inner peace that Jesus promises; to learn how to be content through every circumstance we face; and to grow in spiritual maturity, as we become more and more like Him in character, each and every day.