Philippians 1:29-30
Often new Army recruits anticipate "boot camp"
with deserved apprehension. They get through it by believing the advice of
those who have gone before: "You can do anything for ten weeks." When
it's over, they proudly tell others, "It wasn't so bad."
In the moment, many things seem "bad." But in
hindsight, the fact that one endures the discomfort pays an immediate benefit:
It equips us for the future. From that perspective, the pain of the past
becomes a blessing because we have personally seen God's faithfulness and His
strength working in us. If we had strength to endure then, we know we will have
strength when .... The writer to the Hebrews exhorted his readers to
"recall the former days in which ... you endured a great struggle with
sufferings" (Hebrews 10:32). The key word in that exhortation is
"endured." Yes, they no doubt suffered and experienced pain for
Christ's sake. But they were blessed by God's faithfulness and were thus
prepared for the future.
As you look to the future, remember God's faithful blessings
in your past.
Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love,
and the future to His providence.
Augustine
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