Life’s Roller Coaster

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” (Romans 5:3-5, NLT)

During my ministry at a missions and discipleship school, I had the opportunity to lead a devotion early one morning. The students were right in the middle of their annual ‘boot camp’, where they are exposed to the natural elements by sleeping outside. They have to do ‘drill sessions’ and the food is limited. We did this to test their character and to see how far they can be pushed. All this was in preparation for their outreach into the mountains of Lesotho. I shared the above Scripture with them, and as they marched down the road in one of their drill sessions, they were shouting: “Trials develop endurance, endurance develops character and character develops hope.”

When we run into trials or problems, we need to use it as an opportunity to become more like Christ and to develop our character, so that we can reflect hope to a hurting world.

Life has been a roller coaster filled with amazing highs and dreadful lows. I have found that in my walk with God, the darker the valley I have walked through, the deeper the lessons I have learnt; and the harder the time I have endured, the deeper and more intimate my relationship with God has gone.

Over the next few weeks, I will share with you from personal valleys I have faced and how God always shone His light into them. He has always taken my brokenness and made it a masterpiece.