Fire is the test of gold; adversity of strong men.
Seneca

We often seek to avoid adversity; however, a certain amount of difficulty is helpful to us. Biology teaches us that hormesis is the result of stress in our lives that produces beneficial effects (e.g. improved health, stress tolerance, growth, and even longevity) because we get out of our comfort zone and are forced to grow.   We live in a fairly climate-controlled environment with many basic needs (e.g. food and shelter) taken care of so we may be ill equipped to handle the stresses we encounter.

Ben Jonson pointed out that “He knows not his own strength that hath not met adversity.” Building manageable stress into your life enables you to develop the ability to deal with the everyday stresses of life. In the navy they taught us that smooth seas do not make skillful sailors. Are you facing some difficult challenges?  May you be encouraged by the Apostle Paul’s advice to the church at Corinth,

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

Follow me on twitter:  rickhiggins5