Monday, February 11, 2008

Strength of Character

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (Romans 5:3-5, NLT)

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (James 1:2-4, MSG)


Yesterday we were out hiking with my boys, ages 2 and 5. We decided to go straight up a 30 foot hill of mud and gravel. My five year old took one look at the hill and decided immediately that he couldn't and wouldn't make it to the top. He gave up without even taking one step forward. He didn't just give up... he complained. Loud and long. All about how there was no way he could do it. I let him know in no uncertain terms that he had no choice in the matter. He was going to the top, period. End of story. His choice was whether to continue complaining as he was pushed, pulled and dragged up the hill, or to be positive and confident in the adventure knowing that he would feel incredible once he was standing on the top.

We started out pushing and pulling. And he complained. Because he had already made up his mind that he was going to be unsuccessful, he got stuck in blackberry thorns, slid on some mud and gravel, and even fell a couple of times. Then, about a third of the way up, something clicked with him. He decided he could do it and that he was going to accomplish it on his own. He didn't need any hands-on help; he just needed our encouragement and cheering in the background. And cheer we did. We were so amazed at his change of heart and his persistence that we just stood there at the bottom watching and yelling out praise. About 7 or 8 feet from the top, he couldn't seem to get his grip. I told my friend that we needed to stay back where we were, giving him only verbal encouragements, and let him work it out on his own so that he could have that sense of accomplishment when he reached the top.

He worked and worked and worked at it. He could see the top and refused to give up. He listened to our advice about where to put his feet and hands next, and his persistence paid off. He reached the top and a giant smile spread across that little face of his. He was so proud of himself! He had accomplished a feat that has now given him the confidence to face bigger and harder hills.

Sometimes I think trials in our lives work the same way. When we persist and listen to God's Words and to His encouragement, we are able to persevere through the trials to the top of the hill. Sometimes God takes a "hands-off" approach because He knows that the end result of making us persevere through the trial without being "rescued" is that we are going to develop strength of character and hope.

Even when it feels like the opposite is true, God never leaves our side. The truth of the matter is that He is right there with us saying, "I've got confidence in you!!"