If I were to define challenges in my own words, I would say that they are obstacles in which we can either deal with and learn from, or we can do nothing except worry about them, even to the point of making ourselves ill. As I think we’ve probably learned throughout our lives, challenges can be trials that come as a complete surprise. Challenges can also happen even with the most excellent and thorough planning ever. A challenge can be something simple, or it can be something that requires great effort and determination on our part. I believe our challenges in life started when we were born, and I am pretty sure they will not stop until we die.
Overcoming some of the challenges in life may not be easy, and depending on the challenge, it may stick with us the rest of our lives. As we age, I believe that we will come to the conclusion that challenges can come upon us in many ways. We have our physical challenges, our emotional challenges, and our spiritual challenges.
While at the grocery store, I have been asked by those shorter than me to reach an item on the top shelf. I have no idea how long that person stood there waiting for someone taller than them to come along, but it was their way of solving a simple physical challenge. I wish that all of our physical challenges were this simple, but we know this isn’t so.
When it comes to emotional challenges, I don’t even know where to start. There are just so many things that can trigger good or bad feelings when it comes to anger, excitement, joy, love, passion, perception, tear-jerking, or even thrilling. I can see where it might be a benefit to read each other’s mind to better understand someone’s emotional state and provide them comfort, but I am very sure we wouldn’t want that ability to last very long.
As for our spiritual challenges, thankfully God has provided us His word and is always there for us. He can and does provide us relief from our physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges. We sometimes need to look to Him sooner, rather than thinking to ourselves that we got this.
Ephesians 1:3-6 (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
As I have mentioned in the past, my wife teases me about not being observant. Based on the comments that I’ve received from other husbands, this might be a common trait. When it comes to being observant, I believe it should remind us that we have each other to help us through the challenges of life. I am not saying that I do a good job of this, but in an attempt to be more observant, there are times when we need to ask a question or two. Is everything okay? What’s wrong? Do you need my help? We may not be able to fix all the challenges in our lives or the lives of others, but we can at least take an interest in each other, and show in a big way that we care and love each other.
It is a blessing that we can rely on each other, but God is there to help us with each and every challenge. As mentioned, there are those physical challenges, such as an illness, that may remain with us the rest of our lives. If we are experiencing emotional challenges, we have the blessing of prayer, but then there are times when we may need to seek the help of others, which may include help from professional health providers.
I believe we are all aware that our future depends on our spiritual health. No matter how many challenges come up during our lives, our priority should be to overcome our spiritual challenges. Our final destination is at stake. Let us not forget that we have each other, and that God is always there for each of us.
1 Thessalonians 5:8-11 (NKJV)
8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.