OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

                It would be nice if life always moved along smoothly, but it does not. Life is often interrupted by obstacles that get in our way and hinder our progress. On our way back to Minnesota from Michigan, we ran into road construction near Chicago. For over an hour, we sat in bumper to bumper traffic, moving at 10 to 20 mph. When you have many hundreds of miles to travel, hitting road construction is not a blessing. The next day we were traveling through Iowa making good time, until I realized I had made a wrong turn. Instead of being on the freeway, where I was supposed to be, I was out in the country traveling on a secondary road. We made the course correction and got back on track, but it cost us more time. Finally, throughout the day, my throat began to feel congested. I started to cough and felt like I had to constantly clear my throat. By the time we got home, I felt horrible. I spent the better part of the next day in bed. I did not anticipate any of these obstacles. I did not plan for any of these obstacles. But, I had to deal with them none the less.

                All of the obstacles that we face in life have a spiritual dimension, whether we recognize it or not. Every obstacle tests our spiritual condition. They challenge us to put our faith into practice. Our first response to an obstacle is usually frustration, which can quickly turn to anger. If we do not recognize the spiritual component in our situation, we can easily feel justified in our frustration and anger. Yet, these are not emotions that bring glory to God.

                Basically there are three categories of obstacles that we face. The first are obstacles intended to trip us up and cause us to sin. These have their source in Satan’s plan to undercut believers. These are usually obstacles that we do not anticipate. They tend to catch us by surprise. They usually focus on some vulnerable area on our lives. The second are obstacles that are the result of our own bad choices. We cannot blame Satan for creating them, but he will indeed try to use them for his negative purposes. The third are obstacles that God puts in our way to test us. The purpose of these obstacles is to sharpen our faith and make us spiritually stronger. We cannot always tell which kind of obstacle we are facing. On the surface they may look alike. Each time we face an obstacle, we should see it as an opportunity to grow in our faith.

                There are two passages in scripture that specifically address the issue of facing obstacles. The first is found in James 1:2-4.

    Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

                In this passage, James does not separate the different kinds of trials. Instead, he tells us to treat every trial, no matter its source, as an opportunity to grow. Instead of getting frustrated with the trial, James instructs us to persevere. Persevere does not mean to grit our teeth and endure. Persevere means to stay the course. It means to keep moving in a positive direction, even if it is difficult. For example, when I was caught in construction outside of Chicago, I was tempted to get off of the highway and look for an alternative route. But, I have learned from past experience, that doing so often gets me into further trouble and does not really save me time. So I stayed the course and we got through it.

                James goes on to say that the goal of perseverance is to develop our faith, so that it will be mature and complete. There really are no shortcuts in life. Shortcuts only lead us to more problems.

                The other primary passage is Hebrews 12:7-11.

    Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

                The writer of Hebrews tells us to see hardships as godly discipline. We most often interpret the word discipline as punishment, but that is not the meaning here. Discipline is focused training. It is setting the boundaries so that a person can excel. A lack of discipline never leads to a productive life. Living a disciplined life often seems hard, and at times painful, but it is the path to life. Hebrews tells us that discipline, rightly responded to, leads to a harvest of righteousness, wholeness and a sense of well-being.

                I do not know what the specific lessons are that I am supposed to learn from my recent series of obstacles. But I know that God wants to use them to shape and mold me for His glory.