Better not Bitter!

Life is often times defined by the struggles we overcome. It is those victories that encourage us through the next struggle, and empower us to overcome. This one great truth is on display throughout all of creation for those who look and listen. Water does its best cooking when under the most preassure. Gold is only refined when it goes through the fire. A diamond is only a chunk of coal that went through some high preasure long term trials.

Have you ever seen a caterpillar transform to a butterfly? His struggle to break free from the cocoon is a lengthly ordeal. We once watched it as a school project and were asked not to help the butterfly escape from the cocoon. One of the girls protested as the butterfly was having trouble breaking free. Then the teacher explained the eternal truth that to this day escapes so many. It is through the struggle that the butterfly gains the strength to fly. If you remove the struggle the butterfly will be crippled and loose his gift of flight. God allows the struggle only because it is beneficial for the butterfly to know a life more abundant and free.

I once read that no one would have ever crossed the oceans had they gotten off the boat at the first storm. Obstacles are not really problems, they are opportunities to learn lessons that will prepare us to live life victoriously in spite of the Devil and his plans to stop us. John Mason once said "The door of opportunity swings on the hinges of adversity". Jesus would say it this way. "In this world you will have troubles, but take heart I have overcome the world". In this world we will all face many trials in many ways, but each and everyone that God allows will be there to make us better not bitter!