Learning the hard way

August 26, 2014 by CJ Penn 4 Comments

The most effective lessons are the ones you figure out yourself.

Almost daily, I earnestly ask God to show me how to do something, like solving a writing problem in the book I’m working on. Though I feel His presence with me, and at times, He does seem to give me the answer, He doesn’t solve all my writing challenges.

It just occurred to me that maybe God has a good reason for not showing me the solution to all my problems. Like any good parent or teacher, maybe God is telling me that for some problems, I need to figure out the solution myself.

What do you think?

Author: CJ Penn

I love writing - it gets me out of bed when it's way too dark, just so I can do some writing before heading off to work. I write because I’m passionate about God, Jesus, His Spirit, and His truth. And, I feel the Holy Spirit gets shortchanged in the world we call Christianity. The truth is sometimes lacking too.

4 thoughts on “Learning the hard way”

barimah1
August 26, 2014 at 6:19 am

I think so too, God has blessed us with creative abilities and talents and he knows that we can find out the solutions for ourselves if we work harder..lets keep working harder He is there every step of the way to getting the answer

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rolerrol
August 26, 2014 at 9:01 am

I don’t agree with that. I agree with you in the sense there is a place where we need to be good at what we do. Skill is very important but at the same time I think He doesn’t show us answers at times because He wants us to seek Him more and depend on Him more. After all He is the One who created us and He knows our limits. So He would bring hard things so we would trust Him to do His work. He would bring hard things so He could show you His glory when in your weaknesses you do great things! That is what I think.
Rolain

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- C.J. Penn
  August 26, 2014 at 11:33 am
  
  Hi Rolain,
  Great point – thanks. For me there’s a fine line between totally relying on God, and relying too much on myself. My ego thinks I can handle certain things and solve certain problems on my own. So I have to guard against my prideful self. That’s why, when I write, I try to write with my heart and mind focused on the Holy Spirit within me. Looking at Him, rather than at “self” – that’s what works best for me.
  
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- rolerrol
  August 27, 2014 at 2:49 am
  
  You are right about the line being fine. It is very very fine. We just need to be able to discern if we have passed the line. All the best as you look to Him. God can and will use someone who knows He is the one to look to.
  Rolain
  
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