Dear Avoider,
I think we all would really like to avoid problems and suffering. But obstacles serve a purpose in our life. God uses obstacles to take us higher and deeper in our relationship to Him. When life is the same, it becomes mundane and we get lazy in our spiritual walk. We forget we have an enemy who is seeking whom he may devour. John 10:10 tells us, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy….”

When we’re not on guard and troubles come, we could get derailed but the second part of that scripture says, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” This is Jesus talking and warning us about a real enemy who wants to derail us with the obstacles of life. But the verse also shows us how not to derail and that is by believing Jesus came to give us not only life, but an abundant life. It is true, this world is full of obstacles, tragedy, and suffering. But with the Lord by our side, we can have His joy, peace, and hope through it all!
We cannot avoid or jump over the obstacles, nor should we even try to. In 1 Timothy 6:17-18 Paul says, “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” When we trust in the living God no matter what we have or where we are, we can experience joy! We must be able to get beyond the obstacles and suffering to do that. These verses show that it can be done.

Watch the birds and how they fly with the wind if it’s flying for pleasure. But if the bird meets danger, it turns right around and faces the wind, in order that it may rise higher…. Sufferings and obstacles in this life are God’s winds.

The following short poem expresses what I’m saying.

“Be like a bird that, halting in its flight,
Rests on a bough too slight.
And feeling it give way beneath him sings,