While I wouldn’t call what I’m going through right now “suffering,” it does remind me of something I’ve written before called Skipping Suffering. There are things in life that you can’t and shouldn’t skip, or you’ll miss out on something very important.
I’m at a point in life that I almost wish was over, except I know that if I skipped it, I wouldn’t learn anything. I have some decisions to make about my future, and while I know things will turn out fine as long as I’m listening to God, I am starting to get tired of the suspense. But while I’ve never done this before, I know God has something important for me to learn and become, and if I ever have to do it again, I’ll be better at it. Which reminds me of another thing I’ve written called Practicing What You Don’t Like. I won’t get any better if I decide not to keep going.
Speaking of which, I have to decide to do that, to keep going. I’m not going to get anywhere if I don’t go anywhere. I won’t become more of who God wants me to be if I don’t keep Running the Race. (See also Working on Running)
I’ve noticed in this post I’ve been doing a lot of looking back so I can look forward, and I’ve sort of come full circle. I wrote about Looking Back on and Forward to God’s Goodness right around the time all this change started. I know I’ll get where I’m going, and I know I’ll get there by God’s help and grace. I’ll let you know how it goes. It’s going to be an interesting story!
More on working towards what is to come:
Pursuing Holiness
Letting and Keeping
Benefit and Consistent Work
Sanctification Homework
The Process of Sanctification
A Bit on Sanctification
More on changing circumstances:
Change: New, Scary, and Exciting
When God Moves the Furniture
God Controls Change
Character Development