Smooth out, rough up

June 26, 2006

By Dan Turpin

A difficult crisis can be more readily endured if we retain the conviction that our existence holds a purpose — a cause to pursue, a person to love, a goal to achieve.

— John Maxwell

While sitting in class at a worship symposium the Holy Spirit began speaking to my heart, “I have come to smooth out your rough places and rough up your smooth places.”

On my legal pad I wrote down what the Lord was saying and thought to myself, Lord, it is OK that You smooth out the rough places in my walk through life. But please don’t mess with the smooth places.

Once again the Holy Spirit spoke to me, Son, I am going to smooth out your rough places so you don’t become discouraged and give up. I am also going to rough up your smooth places so you don’t become complacent and let up. If you give up, you will fail and if you let up, you will fall.

Phillips Brooks said, “Lord, I don’t pray for a lighter load, I pray for a stronger back.”

Let us not be guilty of spending the majority of our prayer time asking God to change the circumstances surrounding us instead of seeking Him to change the circumstances within us. God will empower us in every situation as we learn to daily yield ourselves to Him.

Take to heart the words of Pat Riley, “Life is difficult. Once you realize and accept that fact, you are ready to live life successfully. You find a genuine kind of peace. You focus on controlling all the things that you are able to control. You rededicate your energies to basics. The most profound basic of all is simple hard work.”

When experiencing a hardship I often say, “Somehow, someway, by some set of supernatural circumstances, and by some miracle means I will come out on top.”

God does not spoil His followers with ease. Difficulties are the platform from which He shows himself strong in us and where we show ourselves strong in Him. When we reach the end of our ability, we have arrived at the place where God’s ability begins. He is seldom early with the answer, but He is never late.

When facing a problem, no matter how difficult, remember you will survive. You will outlive the pain, you will be better after the test, your faith will grow, your love will mature, and God will see to it you never face anything you can’t handle.

Dan Turpin is senior pastor of West Coast Church (AG) in Englewood, Fla.