Enduring Hardship
by Lisa Coleman

A domed stadium with artificial turf and climate-control has been questioned as best practice for a professional football team’s success. As against human nature as it is to forgo comfort, it doesn’t appear to enhance a team’s likelihood to win. Reportedly Super Bowls have only been won by ‘Domed Teams’ three times (5.45% or 3/55 of Super Bowl Winners). Could it be that the misery of sleet, snow, mud, heat, and wind plus the players braving those elements are actually disciplines – literally training them to handle most other hardships as well?  The Green Bay Packers were the 1996 Super Bowl champions, in part, because of the discipline gained from regularly playing in some of the worst weather in the country.

There are also some naturally occurring examples illustrating the advantages of hardship. The pearl is formed from the intrusion and irritation of foreign substances into its oyster host.

A baby in the womb subjected to a period of chronic stress several days before the birth takes place “realizes” that delivery may be soon. The most vital steps of maturation (notably regarding the lungs) are rapidly accelerated. The mechanism for this is the release of stress hormones. This has been proven to accelerate lung maturation, including the production of surfactant (a “soapy” film that coats the inside of the lung, reduces surface tension, and makes breathing easier). These babies tend to have better survival and less lung disease, compared to those premature babies who are born without a preceding stressful period. Our daughter was born very premature and experienced this tremendous benefit of stress induced rapid lung maturation.

The evidence for benefits from enduring hardships is plentiful. Its truths permeate all aspects of life from childhood hardships, relationship hardships to physical hardships.

Hebrews 12:7,11 tell us “Endure hardship as discipline.. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Paul’s experiences illustrate this for us. As believers and students of Scripture we have a front row seat to truth, that at first glance can appear distressing. Yet upon closer inspection and reflection we can discern a much larger and more comforting picture for the long run. Enduring hardships, while never our desire, can yield treasure if we look through our spiritual lenses.

Hunker down and let’s continue our study of Acts from chapters 21 and 22.

You can download the Bible study materials for this session for your personal use and watch the Zoom video of the in-class session by following the links below: 

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