Greatness Comes from Struggle

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Anything worth having doesn’t come easy.” This saying attributed to Zig Ziglar, captures a profound truth about life. We cannot expect great things to happen unless we work hard. Nothing is more true when it comes to our salvation.

In those days, there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is praying, and he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized, and took food and was strengthened.

Acts 9.10-19

Today the Church commemorates Saint Ananias, the Apostle who baptized Saint Paul. In his conversation with God, we learn the truth behind Zig Ziglar’s saying. Saul couldn’t become the great Saint Paul until his had suffered for the name of Christ.

For the evil Saul had done to Christ and His Church, Christ permitted him to suffer but not as punishment. Saint Paul never thought of his suffering as punishment. Rather, he saw his suffering as a badge of honor for his faith in Christ. Saint Paul told the Ephesians as much.

Brethren, to me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him. So l ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3.8-21

Saint Paul is an example to us. When we allow our suffering, which we fully deserve for the evil we have done, to honor God, we are elevated to greatness in faith. When we see our suffering as punishment and resent God, our suffering becomes our failure and weakness.

Saint Ananias was afraid of Saul until Christ reminded him that grace abounds in suffering. If faith is anywhere present in our heart, we will embrace our suffering as honor to God. We can become as great as Saint Paul if we honor God. If we honor ourselves, we become nothing.

There is another saying you may have heard, “Hard work never hurt anyone.” When we combine hard work with faith and struggle, we get greatness. We become great in the eyes of God even if the world mocks us.

My invitation for you today is to see every struggle as a gift from God to express your faith in Him. Be thankful to God for your struggle today. It will be your struggle, through faith, that makes you great tomorrow.