Recently I found myself struggling with anxiety due to some uncertainty about the near future. I was getting images in my head of possible experiences that were not positive in any way.
It’s almost impossible that any of them would actually take place. However, they were causing me to feel quite uneasy. The only thing I wanted at the time was to get out of this emotional turmoil.
After pondering on these issues, I eventually asked myself “what kind of emotional state do I want to have?” The answer was quick and direct: I want to be established on the foundation where nothing succeeds in disturbing my peace.
From this I was able to take out two conclusions:
- The fact that I’m moved emotionally by supposedly possible events in the future shows that I’m not yet strongly established on the foundation.
- I don’t have a desire to remove difficulties out of my life. I have a strong appetite to live as an overcomer.
I personally don’t believe that God sends difficulties. I think He likes to challenge us but He wouldn’t hurt us. He wants growth, not traumas.
I’ve been touched deeply by a thought of Brother Yun. He wrote a book describing the Christian persecution in China. At the end of the book, he insisted:
“Don’t pray for the persecution to stop! We shouldn’t pray for a lighter load to carry, but a stronger back to endure! Then the world will see that God is with us, empowering us to live in a way that reflects his love and power. This is true freedom!” — The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian by Brother Yun.
Is it a lack of difficulties that shows the strength of a believer or strength to withstand? We have undeniable evidence in the Bible that storms will come to the wise and to the foolish (Matthew 7:24-27).
The ability to withstanding the storms shows the reality of a good foundation. Disciples of Jesus can be another example. They scattered after Jesus was arrested but after the resurrection, their boldness increased immensely. They got a strong foundation and no storm was able to move them.
Peace in tribulations is a much greater testimony to the world than the capacity to get out of trouble.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing,’’ (James 1:2-4 ESV).
James shows us another benefit of difficulties. Having a foundation, all coming trials, difficulties, and tribulations produce steadfastness. Then this steadfastness leads us to perfection! That’s such great news! We can either be consumed by the fire we experience or it can light up our faith and purify it.
This completely changed my attitude towards the emotional turmoil I was having. Instead of seeing it as a destructive force set against me, I started to see a growth opportunity.
It made me think about what kind of foundation I have and if Jesus would approve it. It’s encouraging to know that in the place of this anxiety I can have joy knowing that after the storm I’ll be a better representative of God’s greatness.
