Did you get the memo that life was going to be easy?  Was there a section indicating that life was going to be fair?  I sure didn’t!   I’ve been checking my mailbox, my inbox and my Facebook messages regularly, but have yet to receive such a notice.  Sigh….

Unfortunately, many of us believe that life is supposed to be both:  easy and fair.  However, these two fallacies are giant leaps into a life of disappointment and frustration.

According to Rick Warren, the author of Purpose Driven Life, “Life is a series of problems:  Either you are in one now, you’re just coming out of one, or you’re getting ready to go into another one.  The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.”

Life is definitely full of hurdles.  However, we can focus on the problems that these hurdles create or we can focus on God to guide us over, around or through these stumbling blocks of life.

Each of us has our own obstacles.  Pain and suffering can come in a variety of forms.  Death, illness and financial difficulties quickly come to mind.

When troubles occur, many of us tend to wallow in self-pity and cry out, “Why me?”  But the real question is, “Why not me?”  Who am I that I get to walk through this fallen world unscathed and untouched by sorrow?  That’s just not the way it is.

Bad things happen.  I have no clue why and I sure wish they didn’t.  However, I am called by God to trust Him in ALL things.

“What, then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” – Romans 8:31-32

Jesus Christ is our example to follow when challenges confront us.  He understands our suffering.  He’s been here and done that!  I tend to forget that Jesus was despised, ridiculed, abandoned by His friends and put to death (and He didn’t even DO anything!).  Talk about some hurdles in life!

Jesus is the perfect model to which I need to pattern my life.  If I do this my character will mature and reflect Jesus.  This will only happen if I choose His way instead of my own, EVEN in the midst of the struggles I endure.

Gratitude is great place to start!

1. Be grateful for Jesus Christ! – He is my savior and my redeemer!  He is the reason I have hope!
2. Be grateful for the positive aspects of my life! – There is always something good to be grateful for!  Can’t find it inside your life?  Look out the window.  The entire world was made for US to enjoy!
3. Be grateful for my life! – Life is a gift.  I didn’t do anything to deserve it, yet God gave me life!

How do you deal with the hurdles in your life?

Some Wisdom for Today:  Proverbs 23:23 – Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.