I have a tendency to think that because I believe I am following God’s Will for my life that my life will be made easier. Somehow I have come to the conclusion in my head that following where God leads is going to lead to less stress, fewer problems, more happiness, and great success.
That is just not the case. I think the opposite is true far more often. Following God’s Will does not mean less stress and an overall easier life. When I read through the lives of the saints, I normally don’t sit back and think to myself “Wow! That seems so easy and fun.”
It is generally acknowledged that the wicked seem to prosper while the upright and just seem to suffer. We also tend to wonder just why that is. I don’t have all the answers but I think a possibility could be that our trials and tribulations sanctify us. God uses the struggles we encounter to work for His benefit.
Suffering is not always bad. We need suffering to humble us. We need to be reminded that without God we don’t and can’t have it all together. The wicked seem to prosper here on earth while the righteous suffer. This is often viewed as unfair. But I propose that this is not unfair at all. Rather, this is beneficial for our sanctification and should be embraced.
God does not promise that the path will be easy, however, He does promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. Allow Him to use your trials, your uncertainty, and your fear to sanctify you. Surrender to Him and allow His abundant grace and mercy to overwhelm you.
Verses to Ponder
- James 1:2-4
- “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
- John 16:33
- “‘I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.’”
- 2 Cor 12:9
- “but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me”
- Romans 8:38-39
- “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”
Catholicism Rekindled 