Our Strength Is In Our Struggle And Our Power Is In Our Pain
Growth always causes us pain. Do you realize that our
muscles will only grow as they tear? When we exercise our muscles, especially
those we don’t normally use, we will most likely feel painful or uncomfortable
in those muscles a day or two later. That’s because, in using those muscles, we
have actually torn them. The tearing will cause us some pain, but our muscles
will end up with a greater capacity for strength. Read the story about “The
Rock”.
A man was sleeping at night in
his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord
told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of
his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with
all his might. So, this the man did; day after day. For many years he toiled from
sun up to sun down; his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive
surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might.
Each night the man returned to
his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.
Since the man was showing signs of discouragement, the Enemy decided to enter
the picture by placing thoughts into the man's weary mind:
"You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't
budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it."
Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he
was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. "Why
kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time giving
just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough." And that is what
he planned to do, until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and
take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.
"Lord," he said,
"I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to
do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged
that rock by half an inch. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"
The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve
me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock
with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you
that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push.
And now you come to me with your
strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at
yourself...Your arms are strong and muscled, your hands are callused from
constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard.
Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that
which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to
be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This
you have done.
Now I, my friend, will
now move the rock."
This principle also applies to our character. People with
real strength of character are those who have overcome many hardships. The
situations we struggle with and overcome can give us strength over a period of time.
We all know people who seem to have everything going well
for them and everything they do has a silver lining. But often we don’t know
how they reached that stage of success. Success is never instant, it is built
over time. Mother Teresa influenced a lot of powerful people to help her
relieve suffering in India. Where did she get that power? It came from years of
struggling to help the poor. Her power came out of her pain.
We often look at people who are successful and we think,
“They have not really been through much pain.” Unfortunately, we tend to
look at the instant sample or the picture of their lives at that point in time.
We notice their nice cars, their achievements, and their comfortable homes, but
we don’t see the pain that actually got them their.
You are most likely struggling with real issues right now.
But guess what! Your current struggles are going to strengthen you. Your
strength is in your struggle and your power is in your pain. In fact, your current
struggles are going to give you credibility when you overcome them and begin to
share your story with others. If there had been no struggle, there would be no
story. If there had been no pain, there would be no victory.
The principle applies to relationships and to business.
Relationships that don’t go through struggles never get strengthened.
Businesses that don’t go through struggles never get strengthened.
“The important thing about a problem is not its solution,
but the strength we gain in finding the solution”
“There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you
in its hands. You seek problems because you need their gifts.” Richard
Bach
“If we don't see a failure as a challenge to modify our
approach, but rather as a problem with ourselves, as a personality defect, we
will immediately feel overwhelmed.” Anthony Robbins
Look for the positives. No matter how painful a
situation, understand that something positive can come out of it. Where does
your strength and power come from? It comes from your pain. So what is it that
is causing you pain right now? Remember, your struggles are going to strengthen
you.
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