I don’t know about you, but I love it when things are going great! Especially in my relationship with Jesus. Life is good, prayers are being answered, and it’s easy for me to see things from God’s perspective. It’s like being at the crest of a roller coaster ride experiencing the thrill of God taking my breath away with all He is doing in my life and in the lives of those around me. But that isn’t what being a Christ-follower is all about. It seems that the true test of our spiritual life is not at the crest of a roller coaster ride, but rather it is about what we learn from the valley and the ordinary things in life. That’s where we have to prove our stamina and strength. It’s about being willing to allow God to crush us so He can use us. Oswald Chambers said, “God can never make us into wine if we object to the fingers He uses to crush us. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed.” Maybe we aren’t made just for the mountains, for the sunrises, or for the other beautiful attractions in life – maybe they are only intended to be moments of inspiration. Maybe it’s through the uncomfortable times that God is able to accomplish His purpose for my life. Makes me feel a little uncomfortable just thinking about it.
