Grind or Shine
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed
in us. Romans 8:18
Adversity is the grindstone of life. Intended to polish you up,
adversity also has the ability to grind you down. The impact
and ultimate result depend on what you do with the
difficulties that come your way. Consider the phenomenal
achievements of people experiencing adversity.
Beethoven composed his greatest works after becoming
deaf. Sir Walter Raleigh wrote the History of the World
during a thirteen year imprisonment. If Columbus had
turned back, no one could have blamed him, considering
the constant adversity he endured. Of course, no one would
have remembered him either. Abraham Lincoln achieved
greatness by his display of wisdom and character during the
devastation of the Civil War. Luther translated the Bible
while enduring confinement in the Castle of Wartburg.
Under a sentence of death and during twenty years in exile,
Dante wrote the Divine Comedy. John Bunyan wrote
Pilgrim's Progress in a Bedford jail.
Finally, consider a more recent example. Mary
Groda-Lewis endured sixteen years of illiteracy because of
unrecognized dyslexia, was committed to a reformatory on
two different occasions, and almost died of a stroke while
bearing a child. Committed to going to college, she worked
at a variety of odd jobs to save money, graduated with her
high school equivalency at eighteen, was named Oregon's
outstanding Upward Bound student, and finally entered
college. Determined to become a doctor, she faced fifteen
medical school rejections until Albany Medical College
finally accepted her. In 1984, Dr. Mary Groda-Lewis, at
thirty-five, graduated with honors to fulfill her dream.
ADVERSITY - THE GRINDSTONE OF LIFE.
WILL IT GRIND YOU DOWN OR POLISH YOU UP?
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of
many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so
that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4 NIV
[ Charlotte -- 'Tidings@Topica.com' ]
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