If It's Worth Suffering For, It's Worth Suffering Through

Why do we think that we'll live our dreams without a struggle?

Well, in the immortal words of some philosopher (whose name has escaped me), "I have no idea."

(Okay... I made that up.)

Seriously... I don't know. I'm trying to figure that out, to be honest. But I can certainly tell you a couple things that I've learned on my journey toward living my dreams, especially about the struggles involved.

For one thing, the things I've suffered for are the things I appreciate. Conversely, the things that have come easy I seem not to appreciate--even neglect.

Another thing I've learned is that the struggle is essential to fulfilling the dream. No struggle, no fulfillment. The struggle is the white-hot fire, anvil, & hammer that forge the metal of who God has created us to be. In the military, we put it this way: "The hotter the fire, the tougher the steel."

Here's another thing: when we catch a glimpse of the dream God has for us, the suffering we endure gets put into perspective. If we can just keep our eyes fixed on the prize God has set before us instead of the tumult surrounding us, it will not overwhelm us. In fact, we'll often be thankful for the tumult in the long run. (I didn't say we'd enjoy it, but we will appreciate it's place in our development.)

The thing about suffering, though, is that it doesn't last forever. It's actually quite short-lived. You WILL get through it. And when you get through it, you can look back on the winding path of suffering & enjoy the view.

When all is said & done, the dream & the suffering are inseperable... But a dream worth striving for is a dream worth suffering for.

And if it's worth suffering for, it's worth suffering through.