Eating Chicken Fingers for Breakfast

“Do not think, believer, that your sorrows are out of God’s plan; they are necessary parts of it.” – C.H. Spurgeon

When our son Chris was a child, he had a favorite food… chicken fingers! If he could, he would have eaten them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, mixing his favorite sauces (buffalo, barbecue, and honey mustard) for a little variety.

Of course, that wouldn’t have been a very healthy diet, so Deanna made sure he ate enough fruit, vegetables, and other meats to balance things out.

By the same token, eating nothing but sweets might taste good, but your body wouldn’t get the nutrition it needed. Meanwhile, you’d have the dentist’s cell phone number on speed dial.

Life is the same way. If all you and I experienced were sugary-coated good times, our spiritual (and emotional) growth would be stunted. Basically, we would be chronological adults but spiritual and emotional infants.

It is during life’s troubles and trials – and yes, its inevitable sorrows – that we are forced to lean on Jesus. And that, my friend, is how we grow tall and strong and Christlike.

In the meantime, try meditating on the following verses…

“After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” Acts 14:21-22 (NLT)

“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT)

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President