In the last hundred and fifty years, humans have designed many labor-saving inventions. We replaced walking and animal transportation with motorized vehicles; we invented air conditioning so we could escape the discomfort of summer; we designed machines (computers) that replaced physical accounting records and made data entry easier; many traded planting and harvest for the convenience of grocery store shelves. The convenience of these advancements and more has made life more comfortable and easier.
There is a danger, however. The overabundance of comfort, weakens men. Take, for example, a sixteen-year-old from before 1940 and compare him to a sixteen-year-old of the last thirty years. You would see a major difference in how much adversity each is able to withstand. Many kids today spend the majority of their time inside. They play video games in the cool air instead of working in the heat or the cold. Because they have known and lived the easy life, they want total comfort and avoid any adversity.
This is true for adults as well as teenagers. Instead of working out, we watch TV. Instead of preparing whole foods to eat, we buy chemically processed boxed items that are ready in five minutes. Instead of managing how much we eat and enduring a little discomfort from being hungry, we overeat and keep our bellies full. Instead of reading our Bibles every day, we stare aimlessly at the TV or scroll aimlessly on our phones. Comfort is killing us.
It is possible to change our habits and break this trend in the next generation. The first place to start is mental change; we must think of difficulties differently. We should teach our children to “glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:3-5). In this passage Paul teaches the virtue of embracing tribulation. We are to glory in it. He tells us that tribulation, this uncomfortable adversity, will grow us into better men and women! Man-made air conditioning, comfortable couches, and soft beds cannot do this.
The second mental change is to remember that our greatest and deepest comfort comes from the Lord. When we face adversity, God tells us to look toward Him for strength. He stands ready to be our comfort. A practical way to learn to look to the Lord in adversity is to turn your mind to Him during the minor, expected discomforts of life. For example, when you exercise, go for a long walk, work in the heat, or experience some other physical challenge, you could remember these verses: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies, and the God of all comfort, Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). If we do not rely on God when we face everyday adversity, how will we respond with faith during truly difficult times? And how will we be prepared to guide others to rely on God in their adversity?
Facing adversity makes us stronger. If we rely on God to get us through those hard times and grow strong, then when temptation inevitably comes we will be prepared to rely on Him to get us through. As we rely more on God we can “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience [remember here that patience also comes from facing tribulation which strengthens us to face greater temptations]. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4).
We Christians should not look for refuge in the comforts of the world. However, we should also not expose ourselves to unreasonable difficulty. Do not spend hours outside in 100-degree heat without water, or over-exert yourself into heat exhaustion or heat stroke. However, there are wise ways to introduce healthy difficulty. If you are living a life of comfort, try to face one adversity a day. Start small: walk a quarter mile each day, then a half mile, until you have achieved success against that adversity. Read your Bible and pray each day for five minutes, then ten minutes, and fifteen minutes, until you have developed a God-honoring habit. Men especially should do at least one uncomfortable thing every day. Get out of the house, go for a long walk, work out, plant a garden, read your Bible. And when you get tired and uncomfortable, remember that Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). God is telling us that life is uncomfortable and hard, but there is rest and comfort in Him.
A final mental change for embracing adversity is to consider potential persecution. If the Lord tarries, the adversity we will face on this earth may be great. We have no idea how bad it might get for us Christians before that glorious day when “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). So strengthen your bodies, strengthen your spirits, and strengthen your faith by facing adversities and finding at least one uncomfortable thing to do each day. Rely on the Lord to get you through that hard time while you “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). And always remember and take comfort knowing God has already established, “this is the way, walk ye in it” (Isaiah 30:21).
The above article was written by Jonathan Thornton. He is a military veteran and member of NorthStone Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL. To offer him your feedback, comment below or email us at strengthforlife461@gmail.com.
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