“The purpose of Christianity is not to avoid difficulty, but to produce a character adequate to meet it when it comes. It does not make life easy; rather it tries to make us great enough for life.” ~James L. Christensen
Another challenging quote for me to weigh in on.
I’ve been fighting this idea with my counselor. The idea that the Christian life and marriage are all about changing my character. I’m beginning to question this statement. And it’s a good questioning. There is more to Christian life and marriage than character-building.
We all must endure valleys and times of darkness of soul, but I believe Christianity is all about relationship. Intimacy with the One who made us. Intimacy with a few trusted others. Just like Jesus suffered unto death for us, we are called to suffer too. I hate that. I’ve had my share of sorrow. I’m sure I’ll encounter more. Yet I hold on to hope. Hope that one day there will be no more disease, poverty, war, famine, abuse, or evil. Heaven awaits!
Yes, God uses difficulty to produce character. I actually teach on this subject using a rock tumbler. The rough-to-polished shaping process. I love it! However relationships are the most important part of my Christian journey. What would I do without my Heavenly Father in times of heartache? What would I do without my husband or a friend to cry to? I need others to get through the painful parts of life.
Thank you, God, for giving me the gift of relationship. Relationships that encourage me, love me, and challenge my character.
**To participate in this week’s quote, please visit Allison at Simple Christian Living.**
May you be sweetly blessed.
Beautiful post 🙂 Thanks for stopping by In Other Words Tuesday! God bless and have a wonderful holiday!
This is very thought provoking…
I know that God wants us to have an intimate relationship with Him, to talk to Him, trust in Him, to know that He is always there for us… that He loves us more than anyone else. We can never be who He is, but we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds…and that for me is an ongoing process.
As we face the joys and blessings of life it is easy to thank Him and feel close, loved and undisturbed. The real challenge comes with the unfairness, sorrows and pain that come throughout our lives. I too need others to help me get through the painful parts of life. I am absolutely certain that He put my husband, family and friends in my life to help me deal with the challenges in life, but our relationship to these human people never be as certain as our relationship with God… they will disappoint us… but through it all, He is there, no matter what, and He wants us to rely on Him. How Awesome is our God!
Since He is our best friend He wants to help us in these times of trouble, all He wants us to do is ask Him for Help to get through it. He will provide the necessary tools,friends, etc. to get us over life’s humps. I learned this the hard way when there was no one I could count on or ask but Him. Since then, I let Him give me what is needed for life’s maturing situations. It was during that season of my life that I truly learned who my best friend was with Jim being second.
Blessings to you and your loved ones for Thanksgiving.
You know something occurred to me it is important but it is equally important that we listen to the answer. God will always answer your prayers.
I sometimes have a hard time when I don’t like the answer. For me to step out on uncharted territory is tough.
I always joke that there is ‘My time and then There Is God’s Time’. I just want my prayer answered before I am 99 thank you.
Don’t Character and Relationship intertwine themselves?
Have a great Turkey Day 🙂
I think that I agree with you. In the relationship, more especially, the intimate relationship we have with the Lord, the character is changed. How can we stay the same spending time in that kind of glory and grace. The power of the Holy Spirit, coupled with the word, creates in us the god-like character we desire, need and that He wants to see in us. It’s all by grace. We can learn what needs to be changed in us, but it’s submitting ourselves to Him that those changes can come to pass. We’d just take credit for it, if we could do it any way. To God Be the Glory! Amen!