* Donald E. Higgins
Somewhere along the line, many Christians have developed the idea that they deserve to have a relatively easy life. We have a very false sense of what should be the norm. If someone asks you how things are going and you answer "Fine", that is thought of as normal - the way it should be. If there is anything wrong and you answer that question with a qualifier (Fine, but.." Then it is assumed that your life is not normal. If something is wrong, then your life is for some reason not that it is supposed to be.
In actuality, the real thing that is wrong is this kind of thinking. Until we change our thinking in this regard, life will always be frustrating. We will be preoccupied with trying to fix everything instead of learning the lessons God wants to teach us. We will always be expecting things to get better around the next bend in the road when "better" isn't anywhere on the map. Until we learn this, we will just wrestle with life instead of working with it - taking what God sends as our course description, and readying ourselves for each new lesson. Difficulty, surprise, hardship, and trails of every kind are the norm for the follower of Christ.
Paul puts it this way: "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going" (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NLT)
Now that's normal. If you want to grow as Christian, expect this kind of treatment. And the reason for this is twofold. First: life by nature is difficult, and hardship produces character in us as we meet life's challenges with the Holy Spirit; and second: when we go through ordinary hardship and difficulty, the reality of the presence of God in our lives can be more easily seen, because the hope and confidence of Christ in our lives is in direct contrast to our situation, making God easier to spot. Or, as Paul goes on to say: "Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us" (2 Corinthians 4:11 MSG)
If normal for you means everything is fine and dandy, then brace yourself, because you are in for a surprise. Count on it. When we look at Calvary, it was rather tough for the holy, spotless Lamb of God. But look what God was able to accomplish through such evil hatred and savagery of hostile men.
As Christians in a hostile world, we too will face adversity. We need to understand too, that God can accomplish far more character development in us through affrication and tribulation. These things provide opportunities for Christ to become even more real and meaningful.
Romans 5:3-5 "But we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, character and hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out of His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. "