I don't suppose there is any real comfort knowing that this happens to us all. It's not a real joy of mine to hear of other's problems. While towing the truck home, we saw three other cars on the side of the road. I know there are even many who don't have a vehicle to tow. I know there are people who had even worse days. Still, the fact remains that it seems we never get ahead. I can't tell you all the times we have used our vacation money to pay repair or medical bills. I could tell you....
What if the goal of life is not to get ahead? Then we we take one step forward and two steps back, we are really taking a total of three steps. Maybe ending up where we started is ok. When I look at all of the times I have had to struggle (which seems to be most of the time), I realize that I have to rely on God more. During those times, I have developed better relationships with others. When I share my struggles, I get closer to people, closer to God, and can better help others.
If we go one step forward, God is there. When we take two step back, God is there also.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
-1Peter 1:3-7
