Obstacles and Struggles

“Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.”

Colossians 1:29 NET

The  Apostle Paul was talking here about the goal that God placed on him of delivering the gospel to the people. But I think the message that he is wanting to get across to us, as believers, is that when God places a goal in us, He will work in us and use His power in us, but it won't always be easy. A lot of us, myself included, think that when God calls us to do something that it will be easy, smooth, no problems, no hassels, and the minute we come up against a problem, we immediately think "no, guess that wasn't God!" Many years ago I felt God impressing on me that He wanted me to start teaching His word. I got an opportunity to teach a small group and I was so excited about teaching. I thought "man, these people are going to be blessed, and this is going to lead to more teaching and more teaching, and on and on and on." Well, my teaching turned into a huge failure that day, I mean no one got anything I was teaching, and so I thought "God, guess that wasn't you." Several years later a good friend told me that the Holy Spirit was "grieved" because I decided not to teach. After thinking about it, I said, "Okay Lord, if you want me to teach, give me something to teach." I got another opportunity to teach, and this time relying on the Holy Spirit along with a lot of humble pie, I taught, and well the rest is history. I've been teaching on and off ever since. The point of this is that when God places something inside of you and it lingers for many weeks and even months, pray about it, take a step of faith and start pressing toward that goal. You WILL have struggles and obstacles, and yes it will be painful at times, but that is all part of the training and growing. 

Take Away: If God has placed a goal inside of you, get it in your mind that there will be obstacles and struggles, but don't let those stop you. Use them for learning and training...and press on toward the goal.