Tuesday 10 July 2012

The Meaning of Hard Times



Our Christian Life is now free from the frantic search for pleasure or power; our life has become a conscious and unconscious search for real spirituality that brings true meaning into every aspect of our lives.


The greatest purpose a person can have is to be convinced of spiritual meaning and significance in who they are and what they do, despite their circumstances. This sense is amplified by doing great things: Caring for others and finding courage in hardship.  When we discover spiritual meaning in such human activities, genuine self esteem and a sense of fulfilment are natural benefits.

Even if we are suffering, we discover that those hard times become bearable and often joyous when we learn to attribute meaning to the situation by the way we respond to it. A person, who’s own spirituality allows them to see the meaning in their circumstance, may remain resolute in suffering, exhibiting great dignity and selflessness while others in a similar situation may give in to animal instinct or reactions.

Forces beyond our control can take away everything that is precious to us except our freedom to choose how we will respond to the circumstances. We all know that we cannot predict or control what happens to us in life but we can learn to control our attitudes, what we feel and what we will do about what’s happening.

If we lose the identity that our employment brings us or a relationship that was vital to our sense of wellbeing, life can suddenly appear meaningless. That is the moment to decide on a ‘why’ in order to find the ‘how’ to respond. We can choose to seek the Lord and discover new meaning or we can ‘wallow in our sorrow’. We have access to the indomitable power of the Spirit if we can seek Him for the meaning.


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