When do you learn most in life? Is it when the sun is shining or when the clouds rain on you? Is it when the road is flat and wide and easy or is it when the thorns pull at you, the way is steep and the path seems to difficult to travel on?
“Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
If I had a choice I would probably choose a wide and broad road to travel through life on, but clearly the obstructed route is the one that in the end leads to life. The fact that some find it means they seek it. (No doubt it is the destination they seek rather than the unpleasant journey?)
If I am honest I am less spiritually vibrant the stronger I feel. In a strange and perverse way this means that I miss the screaming days a little, because I needed God more then than I do today!
I guess that the lesson is to learn from the rocky bits and the dark valleys; to allow the pain to teach us important truths about our journey so that the next dip in the road will not be such a surprise.
Someone says, when the road gets tough the tough get going. This is worldy thinking! In my experience, when the road gets tough the best reaction is to trust the one that made the road to guide you safely along it to your safe destination. If you learn to put your hand into the hand of a strong and faithful saviour, make sure you keep it there during the good times!
