Learning patience from the bullies of life

Jesus was subjected to suffering, pain and trials. He was acquainted with grief. He knew sorrow.
He understands what we go through.

While Jesus walked this earth he felt pain, betrayal, loss and many more emotions that we all commonly go through. He endured, and we can too.

One secret is in knowing that our current pain and trials are only temporary. We must endure these bullies of life and run with patience this race set before us, as Paul said:

Hebrews 12: 1, 2 and 3

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

While caught up in trials and problems of life, it is hard to think about the need to be patient in these struggles. I know all too well. We are a "now" generation.

We want results and a way out of our current unpleasantness. If we always had our way and things went well for us at all times, we would never gain patience. We would never grasp what it means. And one cannot live a fulfilled life without patience.

James 1:

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Just as the wind changes directions and we have NO control over it, the circumstances of our lives will change from time to time but what are those things that we hold close to our hearts to keep us grounded no matter what direction our life takes? The word of God, our relationship with God, what we know in our hearts to be true.

We can be shoved around by the bullies of this life, whether these bullies are harsh circumstances or literal bullies - other people, but we must not let them push us over. We will get disoriented and dizzy at times because of them. There will be times we may think we've been destroyed by them but we're not quite.

1 Corinthians 10: 13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

I have not went through more than most people have. But I have learned to humble myself and I've also resolved myself to learn from these bullies of life. And that's a good thing. It makes me stronger the next time one of them comes around.