Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets . . . (James 5:10)
IT SURE IS NICE to find someone who has been through great difficulty and come out on the other side. I experienced this when going through one of the worst times of my life. Brett had been there, done that, and then some. As we sat across the lunch table from each other, he shared a bit of his past: totaled vehicles, a broken marriage, a lawsuit against his business, and parents with failing health.
Bret was a great encouragement to me because he didn’t try to elevate himself above me. He shared about dark moments when he was unsure how he would go on. Through his life experience, he illustrated what Scripture says about suffering. God ultimately brings us through it to a solution. Brent’s sense of humor broke through with a smile and catchy thought.
He said, “I got to the point where I said to my problems, ‘Is that the best you’ve got?’”
We both had a good laugh. It was healing. Sharing a good lunch didn’t hurt matters either. Several years later, that thought is still vivid in my memory. God is so faithful in carrying His children through all kinds of hardship. May God bring us all to a point of increased inner strength so we’re able to say to troubles, by His power, “Is that the best you’ve got?”
Find someone to encourage this week.
Neal Eckert lives in Michigan with his loving wife and seven young children. He staff writes full-time for a hunting and fishing organization.
© 2018 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
