Crying Uncle

I've heard there are troubles of more than one kind; some come from ahead, and some come from behind. But I've brought a big bat. I'm all ready, you see; now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!

(Dr. Seuss)

Wouldn't it be nice to always live in a "Dr. Seuss" world where everything rhymes and all in life is whimsical and free? News Flash: The world isn't 'Dr. Seuss' compatible at times! Some troubles come from ahead, some from behind - this is reality. I have to ask - are you ready for those troubles? If you are like me, they sometimes catch you a little off-guard! You 'think' you are prepared, but when they hit you full-force, are you really? A moment of true confessions here - I'm not! In fact, I find myself kind of mulling over the muddle I am in and then realize I am gonna need some help!

We are glad for our troubles also. We know that troubles help us learn not to give up. When we have learned not to give up, it shows we have stood the test. When we have stood the test, it gives us hope. (Romans 5:3-4)

My attitude in the midst of troubles is probably not much different from yours. I don't whole-heartedly just embrace every trial, hardship, or troubling situation with thoughts that 'this will make me better'. If I were to be honest, I might even look for a way of escape! It isn't that I don't want to grow - it is that I resist the method God sometimes uses to bring forth that growth in me! Yup, over fifty years of relationship with Jesus and I still find myself resisting what he is doing at times. I am not immune to rebellion - in fact, there are times I think I have cornered the market on it.

In the midst of the trouble, I have to remind myself that this will help me to develop something some might equate to spiritual stamina - the ability to 'not give up' in the midst of hardship. It is hard to believe the way we show we have stood the test - endured the hardship well - is to not give up in the midst of it. During Basic Training in the military I think the goal is to see who can endure the hardship and not give up. The Drill Sargent does everything in his power to break you, to make you second-guess your decision to 'join up', and to see if you will 'cry uncle'. 

Why do we rush into things so easily, then in the midst of the hardship that comes, we find we want to rush out of them as easily? I think it is because we think there is this option to 'cry uncle' in the midst of it. When we resort to 'crying uncle, we are submitting to the thing we see as harder than we can endure. We are admitting defeat. We cry for mercy because we perceive the trial is 'too hard'. Rather than 'crying uncle' the next time we are faced with troubles, maybe we need to ask God to change our perspective in the situation. Perhaps if we saw it as he sees it we might just push on and not hold our tails between our legs! Just sayin!