Far too many people these days completely miss what it means to find joy in the journey of life. Instead, they’re looking forward so much to future events, fantasizing about how magical those will be, they fail to actually live in the present.
For example, some parents are eager for their kids to hit certain developmental milestones, believing once that happens they will have a better relationship with them, their kids will be more enjoyable, etc. Instead, they later realized they didn’t cherish the earlier times because they were focusing on the wrong things: the sleepless nights, the crying, and so on.
This is true when it comes to trials in life. One of the most magical things is when someone realizes the trials they go through are instrumental in forming who they are. Of course, that depends on how you take things.
You could choose to become bitter, blaming others for any unhappiness you feel and any discomforts you endure. Sitting in a victim stance, you aren’t responsible for even a small portion of why your life hasn’t gone the way you wanted, and so that acts as justification for treating others poorly. Thus, the trials in your life, or more accurately how you react to them, then shapes who you become.
On the other hand, you could realize trials aren’t a bug in the system but rather a function of life. We were meant to go through hard times. They humble us and remind us that ultimately God is in control and without Him we cannot manage our life. That turning toward God comes with a number of blessings, and all of that in turn helps form us into a more humble, faithful person who is focused on improvement while being grateful for what we do have.
And that is finding meaning in the journey. We learn that even the most unpleasant things we endure in this life aren’t for nothing but instead should turn us closer to the one who can help us through. When you’re focused in that way, even if you’re thrown in prison wrongfully, have your property confiscated through “legal” means, and your reputation is damaged by the lies of someone who craves to destroy you, the end result will be that you progress. Ironically, those who try to do you damage will ultimately only be damaging themselves.
I’ve been through some awful things in my life, including having property that’s rightfully mine deprived of my use, money stolen “legally,” my reputation smeared by those who have done such things in an attempt to discredit me, etc. And I know from experience that turning your heart to the Lord won’t necessarily correct those wrongs, but it will bring peace and other blessings which will more than counteract the injustices.
This is true power, to know that God is in control and that as He allows us to go through hardships we should turn to Him.
Image copyright Steven Symes
Steven Symes 