I have mentioned a young man who is struggling to find his worth in Jesus. In fact, he has envisioned doing great things for God in his life only to have these things thrown back at him giving him the thought that God just isn’t pleased with him at all. I stumbled into a movie last night entitled Born to Win. It is a movie taken from a true story of a man similar to this young man. I have lived long enough away from the emotions of my younger years that my memory has softened a bit about the anger and torment this movie brought forth. I know that much of the softening I’ve had was simply me not wanting to admit I ever doubted God that much. Yet, I well remember telling God all kinds of unkind things in those years of severe torment.

It is difficult to let someone like this young man work through his anguish with God. He is such a nice person and genuinely wants to help others. Yet, he still doesn’t see that he is the one determining how the help should look. I think we all go through these times thinking our thoughts/actions are aligned with God’s or we wouldn’t have them. I’ve found myself there scores of times only to later find they were only my ideas.

God is never wrong. These tough times do come into our lives and God waits for us to give Him the chance to use them to grow us. Yes, it is painful–very painful–but, so worth it!