Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children –

"My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or lose heart when you are punished by him; for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and chastises every child whom he accepts."

Hebrews 12:1-6

We all need to reach bottom at some point in our lives. Only then can we truly be built up again by Jesus, and He will do that. The Lord will rebuild you, and He will apply the truths from His word to teach truth and faith to us. He will change us all into the joyful, God-dependent people He intends us to be. Through our painful but profitable experiences, we learn that God does discipline us, and our greatest gain is not what we get but what we become.

We will not remain immature. God will give us that maturity. Like any loving father, He disciplines, corrects, and trains us – often through difficult situations. God uses our times of struggle to help us grow and make us more holy. The abundant life that God intends for His people is not trouble-free. Growth and change are often unsettling, but the gain is worth the pain.

God uses setbacks to move us forward.

Our Daily Bread – April 26, 2004