The Benefits of Struggle

Finished with metamorphosis, a butterfly will struggle to push its way out of its dry, crusted cocoon.  The insect needs this effort to attain its final, beautiful form and fly away.  Outside efforts of assistance result in a misshapen insect and death.  For evolutionists, this is a tragedy of failure to pass on genetic material.  For God, it’s a tragedy of failure to add beauty to Creation.

So it is with humanity.  As much as we complain over the struggles of Life, we need the efforts in order to become the well-formed, beautiful creatures God intended.  Striving to overcome the troubles that confront us stretches the limits of our abilities.  We learn just what we can do when we succeed.

Marine recruits are put through a very rough regimen of basic training.  Successful accomplishment not only makes them tough – able to accomplish more than ordinary men and women – it’s what makes them the Proud.  During Navy SEAL training, Hell Week is designed to weed out quitters.  Trainees are actively encouraged to ring the bell, signaling their desire to drop out.  Only those who refuse to give up are allowed to join those elite combat teams.

God allows struggles to “force us to our knees” where He is waiting to give comfort and help.  As the song, Through It All, by Andra’e Crouch says,

For if I'd never had a problem,

I wouldn't know God could solve them,

I'd never know what faith in God could do.

Struggling with problems releases the creativity needed to overcome them.  This results in varieties of solutions and life choices.

Special bonding also takes places among people who share common struggles.  Working alongside others to deal with disasters or just to find solutions to problems in common means shared efforts and mutual caring.  Building combat teams, as well as individual warriors, has long been a military principle.  Business is working to use the same principles.

Finally, the struggle to earn creates within people a greater appreciation for what they receive.  Those who receive because of entitlement – whether from rich fathers or from government programs – don’t value the benefits as much as what they struggle to earn.  I’m sure Peter Buffet values his own musical accomplishments more than the billions to be inherited from his father.