One of my favourite things about meeting new people and deliberately getting better acquainted with them is the opportunity to see life through their eyes and be inspired by their survival stories. Life itself starts teaching us the very minute we're born that it is neither a walk in the park nor a bed of roses. We all learn that lesson eventually, but the more fortunate ones learn more quickly than the rest.
The very best of us have been through desperately trying times (for which reason I keep asking God to help me not judge people by my own very limited perception of their realities). At some point in our lives, we've all either lost dearly loved ones or priceless possessions in the most painful of manners; survived dysfunctional and abusive relationships with members of our families, friends or lovers; or generally battled with circumstances, emotions or habits that have shaken us to the core and left us questioning the authenticity of things as fundamental as our sense of self-esteem, our value systems and our convictions.
Now, while I understand how convenient it might seem to simply conclude that it's these trying times that strengthen us, as it is popularly said that “what doesn't kill you makes you stronger”, I'd rather want to look at things from a slightly different perspective.
The Bible helps us understand that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. So it just might make more sense to believe that the trials and tribulations we encounter daily only make the soils that are our lives much more fertile for scriptural seeds such as Romans 8:28 and James 1:12 to germinate and find full expression.
Ever wonder what would happen if everyone (after merely taking one quick look at us) could see just how much hell we've been through and the magnitude of pain our pasts conceal? I reckon it would be a helplessly gloomy world, one completely devoid of good cheer.
Whose faces would we look to for reassurance when our feet fail and fears assail? Who would believe the words of exhortation we share from Scripture?
The primary reason a person who's been in a seemingly losing battle with a terminal illness all their lives would see you in utter despair, and yet smile reassuringly, give you a warm big hug while gently whispering into your ear that everything will be alright, is most likely the same reason that some of us - despite the measures to which we've been affected by the misfortunes that have befallen our world and country in recent times (which we would be much wiser to pray about than to worry and complain by the way) - wake up each morning with fresh optimism that things will get better: God's grace!
So even though not looking like what you've been through might not exactly be on your list of things you're thankful to God for in the midst of all this madness, maybe it should be.
Just maybe.
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