Hardships Are the Workroom of Transformation

"If God’s primary purpose was to deliver to you a comfortable life, He’s a massive failure. No, He’s committed to giving you something vastly better and eternally more significant.

While we constantly revert back to wanting a life that’s a little easier and more comfortable, the attention of our Lord is never distracted or diverted, He stays on task, working to finish what He’s begun; our complete redemption.

God left us in this broken and uncomfortable world, not because He is a poor planner, but because He knew the hardships here would be the workroom where He rescues us from us and transforms us into His likeness.” —Paul David Tripp

I am so thankful that He stays on task, working to finish what He’s begun in me! I'm glad it's not dependent on me to earn my redemption. I would certainly fail, miserably.

I find myself looking for an easy and comfortable road of life. He leads me through the workroom of transformation. And when I exit the workroom, although it was a difficult journey, I see His hand. I feel His presence. I experience His love. I know that a transformed life will never be found on the easy and comfortable road.

The workroom of transformation has eternal benefits. It's here we see His faithfulness. It's here we learn to trust, to pray and to seek His will. It's in this workroom that we come face to face with our insufficient self and totally dependent on the all-sufficient God of the Universe.

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For additional reading on the hardships of life, check out Roses Are Red, and They Have Thorns. 

Matheson's quote here is great! But being grateful for thorns, it's not an easy task.

"My God, I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorn. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensated for my cross, but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory. Teach me the value of my thorn." -G. Matheson

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I can't tell you how many times I have been in this workroom. Many, not enough, and I'm sure to be back. What have you learned in the workroom of transformation?