Struggling With Hard Times Or Trials?

I learned to drive on a manual transmission car, or a stick shift, as we used to call them.  Pretty much everyone in my family learned on a stick shift and most of the cars we owned have had a manual transmission.  While it can sometimes be frustrating to drive a manual transmission car, it can also have benefits.  Sometimes hard things are good for us![su_spacer]

I remember when I was learning to drive my car, my dad taking me on the side streets to learn how to stop and go.  This is often the hardest part.  It has been said when driving a manual transmission that first gear and reverse are the hardest gears.  You have to get going from a complete stop.  I have killed many an engine trying to get the car going from a dead stop. Even more difficult is when you have to get going from a complete stop on a hill.  I think every time my dad took me driving, he would have me turn on a side street with a hill and stop signs on the middle of the hill!  I hated it when he did this!  It was so hard!  Did he not understand how difficult this was!  I did not feel ready for these hills!  But, he took me there against all my grumbling and complaining.[su_spacer]

And I learned to drive on hills![su_spacer]

Life can be much like this experience of mine.  Our Father in Heaven will often take us out to drive on the streets of life.  He will be there with us, helping us to navigate the terrain.  Much of life can be a joy ride.  There are some beautiful roads to travel.  We all love the open road with beautiful scenery and no obstacles.  We are free! Yet, ever so often, our Heavenly Father will take us to a hill.  It may even be a very steep hill.  This is not the direction we wanted to go.  Then, we often feel stopped or blocked in our progress as we realize there are some difficult tasks to accomplish on this hill.  We may even murmur and complain when we reach these seemingly difficult and impossible stops along our way.[su_spacer]

In these times, we may question our Father in Heaven.  We may plead with him, “Why would you take me to this hill and stop me here?”  We may even add “Don’t you know I am not ready for this?”  We may cry out, “I can’t do this!  This is too hard for me!”  We may sit on that hill in frustration and feel discouraged, even hopeless.  We may wish to quit and not try to go any farther. However, like my experience driving that manual transmission, we are blessed when we face that trial.  With concentration, focus, and determined effort, we will make the climb and overcome the stops!  We just need to keep going, keep trying, and be persistent.  We need to listen for the encouragement of our Father as He assures us we can do it.  Then, we need to step on the gas and move forward.  We would not be on the hills of life if we were not ready to climb them.[su_spacer]

I learned a long time ago that I can make that climb!  What feels like a stop or block or obstacle to my forward progress is really a blessing.  What feels like an insurmountable challenge is really a precious opportunity to go higher, get better, and become stronger.  I have come to know that if I really persist with a patient and continual effort, I will be led higher!  It will be hard work and require the best I have in me, but I will make it![su_spacer]

I know that every up in life is worth it.  If we are on the Lord’s Path, there will be hills to climb!  We can know we are on track if we occasionally feel unsure that we are prepared.  If we trust the climb, trust our Father in Heaven, and stick to our resolve, we will make it past all obstacles and feel stronger in the process.  We can make it up and over the hills of this life!  We need those hills.[su_spacer]

So with faith and determination in my heart and a deep and abiding love for the Lord, I face this next hill with resolve.  “Give me that hill!” I say in my heart.  Then, I step on the gas and go.  I know I can do this hard thing!  Let’s get going![su_spacer]