Have Your Cake!

When I was a little girl, I remember hearing people say they would “make room” for dessert. Frankly, there has always been something appealing about having those sugary sweets right here and now before the essentials, like peas (yuck!). As we grow, we begin to understand that, though some of those things may not have tasted very good, they were good for us. Peas, since I mentioned them, are packed with so many vitamins that are essential for our bodies. Vitamins A, B, C, and even K. Eyes, skin, blood pressure, just everything. Knowing that, for me, does not make them taste any better. I’ve disliked them since I was a baby and it looks like that’s going to stick with me.

Don’t get me wrong. Healthy isn’t necessarily a different way of saying ‘eww’. I could personally eat multiple servings of brussel sprouts, something that I know many others aren’t fans of. That’s the way our taste buds operate. Yet, we have to admit that sweets have a tendency to be more…sweet. A little more pleasing to the taste buds. So for some people, they want those sweets before anything else. My battle strategy when I tackled my meals was to eat the most unpleasant things first. Get those out of the way and off the plate as quickly as possible so that I could savor the things I actually wanted to eat.

As I’ve matured, I’ve come to realize that my spiritual growth exhibits similar idiosyncrasies. I have yet to meet anyone that is enthusiastic about having their faith tested. Or someone who is excitedly looking forward to obstacles and burdens on their journey. Most of us want to avoid the hard stuff. If given an option, I’m sure many would skip hard trials and persecutions any day. 

I’ve learned, however, the importance of the unpleasantness in my faith walk. When we go through school, we are often tested. It’s because a test helps us illustrate that we’ve retained the information we learned and we now know how to put it into practice. Faith is the same way. It’s all well and good to say that you have it. But sometimes you don’t realize just how much you have and how strong it is if you never use it. If you never put it to work.

So all that some of those trial aren’t exactly a cake walk, don’t run from them and don't rush your way through them. Each step of your process is necessary. In those uncertain moments, ask God to help you. But through the journey, trust his plan, even if all you see is plate filled with foods you dislike. Pick up that fork and get to work. Even if you happen to have your desserts first, don't forget that the yuckiness can be just as essential. Live purposefully so that God will continually get the glory out of your story.

Stay Sunny!

Suggested Readings: