No Pain, No Gain
Ecclesiastes
7:2-3
2
It is better to go to the house
of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that
is the end of all men; and the
living will lay it to his
heart. 3 Sorrow
is better than laughter: for by
the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
In times of trial and tribulation the last thing one thinks
they want to hear is that the sting of your wounds are a good thing.
There is an old saying that I had ground into me in Marine Corps boat
camp that has stuck with me over the years.
The first time I heard it the phrase seemed odd, but in my life I have
come to realize the deep truth contained in the phrase, and heralded in the text
we have just read. This phrase is,
“No Pain, No Gain.”
As I consider the message of our text I am reminded that
spiritual growth is almost always experienced in midst of turbulent struggles.
It is when we are walking in the shadow of the valley of death that our
Heavenly Father challenges us the most.
When sorrows come into our lives we must reckon that God has something
dynamic He wants to work into our lives.
Of course, when the storms of life loom on our horizon our
first instinct is the head for cover, and if cover is available that is clearly
the wise thing to do. However, if
our Lord has removed the safety of a harbor from us, and it is apparent that we
are going to have to go through the storm, rather than around it, then we must
determine with James to “. . . let
patience have her perfect work,
that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
(James 1.4)
There is a strength developed within the
storm that can never be learned with out its terror.
No matter what, when the storm passes by your
“. . . heart is made better.”
Hence, the advice of Solomon rings clear.
Put on your spiritual life jacket, batten down the hatches, and secure
your life line; for it is through this storm that our Heavenly Father has chosen
to mold you. Set your eye on the
prize of His spiritual purification and rejoice that you have been found worthy
to join Him in this journey.
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