Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:3-4, The Message)
The struggles teach us who to run to and what is really important.
You see, the truth is that we all struggle with life at times. All of us. No exceptions. Jesus didn’t say, “If you have struggles and adversity….” He said, When you struggle and have adversity, “come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, NASB). Thus the question: Who do we turn to during difficult times?
I play golf with a delightful group of guys who have named themselves the Struggle Brothers. We struggle with golf most of the time. Some of us can shoot 71 or 91, depending upon the wind, the tees we choose to play, or just golf itself. (Can I get an “Amen”?) At round’s end, we are all friends and our mutual struggles are put behind us as we rejoice that we don’t do this for a living.
Many of these same Struggle Brothers join me in our Links Fellowship. So I know who these men lean on in these difficult times. Christ Jesus is their foundation, and they are standing on solid ground. It is such a comfort for me to be yoked up with Jesus and men like this. We can make it through anything with our God leading and the encouragement along the way from fellow strugglers.
Rejoice in the truth that our suffering and struggles now are building character and a foundation, especially in the midst of the storm.I love the comment I heard the other day from one of the Struggle Brothers. He was answering the tough question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” He said, “It only happened once, and he volunteered.”
So now, what is the application from my Struggle Brothers to you today?
First, build your foundation now for the struggles that will surely come your way. This can be done daily through the study of God’s word and interaction with others who are seeking God’s will for their life.
Second, if you are in the midst of a struggle, run to God, our deliverer. St. Augustine wrote, “God had one Son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering.” God knows by experience just what we need in our roughest hour.
And lastly, rejoice. I really mean it—rejoice in the truth that our suffering and struggles now are building character and a foundation, especially in the midst of the storm. James, prompted by the Holy Spirit, put it so well: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4, NASB). We will rejoice mightily on that day when we are presented perfect and complete. We will be Home, where there will be no more struggles for our brothers and sisters. Only rejoicing. So why not start rejoicing and encouraging each other today? Struggle Brothers (and Sisters)—mine and yours—need to rejoice!
—
Randy Wolff
Originally published June 6, 2011
Copyright 2011 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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