Learning From Life’s Lessons

Some of the lessons we get in life are easy, but some can be painful. When my youngest Sister was a child, she put her hand on the stove burner because it was a pretty shade of red. That led to an instantaneous lesson for her. I’ve had similar lessons through the years that were also painful and somehow most always involved my best friend Jeff, but that’s for another day. It always seems that the more painful the lesson, the better we remember it.

When I was a young whipper snapper, one of our favorite television shows to watch was “Happy Days”. The show was good, the cast was good and usually the storyline was good. And who didn’t want to be as cool as Fonzie?

On one episode Richie Cunningham, (played by my long lost twin Ron Howard), was “grounded for life” by his Dad Howard for misbehavior. As they talked about it, Howard asked his son, “Did you know that there is a lesson in this for you?” Richie’s reply was “I figured anything with this much pain had to have a lesson in it somewhere.”

The book of James has been called the Proverbs of the New Testament. Although it’s not a big book (only 5 chapters and 108 verses), it’s filled with wonderful teachings and useful advise. James wrote: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (1:2-4).

James made a simple point in these verses – God doesn’t waste anything. Everything happens in our lives for a reason, and a great part of that reason is to help us grow in our faith. He uses our life’s events as a teaching tool for our lives.

It’s been said that life is to be lived by moving forward but only can be understood by looking back. This teaches us that we must trust in the loving purposes of a sovereign God. We trust that He is in control-especially when life seems to be out of control. If we’re in something we don’t understand, we have to trust God and recognize that he knows and is in control.

For several weeks, the kids at church and I studied the life of the Old Testament character Joseph. He had a life filled with dark, difficult experiences but his final outcome was amazing. He learned through the extremely difficult circumstances he encountered how to trust God and to overcome. His example can help us as we face the issues of our lives.

In Genesis 50:20, we read the story of how his brothers sold him into slavery: “As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Joseph’s perspective reflected a life that had embraced the living God and trusted Him completely.

As you face the difficulties/heartaches of life, it is only by complete trust in the goodness and plan of God that you can overcome. The things that could destroy you can become building blocks on the journey of faith as you look for the hand of God in all circumstances. “This is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith”. (I John 5:4)

If you have never turned your life over to Jesus, confessed your sins and trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, life can be a jumble of confusion. But the One who gave Himself for your failures can bring rightness with God, forgiveness of sin, and a new sense of wholeness and purpose into your weary soul. Christ came into the world because of His love for you and that love can bring an end to the emptiness, bitterness, or sinfulness that wrecks your life.

He offers, by faith, a gift of eternal life and personal forgiveness and the only way to really overcome forever is to accept the victory of Calvary that He accomplished for you; “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). That is real victory-and real overcoming.

Though I’m in no way a brilliant person, I’ve learned many things through the years. Many the easy way, some the hard way, and sadly I’ve had remedial courses on some things because they just didn’t seem to stick with me or I didn’t learn them the first time. No matter how hard the instruction though, it’s always easier when you know the teacher is always looking out for your best interests and love you beyond compare.
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James 1:2-4 (English Standard Version)
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Genesis 50:20 (ESV)
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

1 John 5:4 (ESV)
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.

Romans 6:23 (ESV)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.


(Adapted from “Joseph: Overcoming Life's Challenges - Bill Crowder”)