Even Us Old Dogs Can Learn New Tricks

I once knew of a border collie with a very good memory. When the dog got older it remembered every place in its house that it had ever stumbled or tripped.

And it would avoid those places. Even if that meant jumping over a spot in the floor that looked no different than any other spot in the floor.

Instead of walking straight across the room, the dog developed its own maze around the house to get to wherever it needed to go. It had developed its own “safe” way to navigate its home.

How often have I avoided things that I don’t need to avoid? Am I slowing myself down for no reason?

Do I count it all joy when I fall into various trials (James 1:2-4)? Or do I view trials as something I need to protect myself from?

Instead of counting trials as a negative that happened to me? What if I saw every trial a gift that happened for me?

Seeing your trials as punishment makes your world scarier and more complex. It becomes a maze that needs to be carefully navigated, because another trial could be just around the corner.

But seeing your trials as gifts makes your world simpler and more hopeful. If God has good reason to send us trials, how much more does He have good reason to send us blessings.

Which means everything—including every trial—is a gift.

What do you think?
Joseph