Mystic Journey 2.0

For centuries, we have been told that ‘tribulation works patience’ - that it takes suffering to build godly character in our lives. This is often reinforced by testimonies from people who went through trauma and became better people because of it. But, just because bad experiences can build character, are they really necessary in order for a person to have good character?

I ask this question, because I am convinced that because God is Infinite Goodness and Love, He did not create us to suffer. Therefore, for Him to use suffering as a character-building tool would be contrary to His nature and His design and purpose for mankind.

I believe that it is OPPORTUNITY that builds character, not necessarily suffering. When we are presented with any situation, we have an opportunity to choose how we will respond. Obviously, when we face suffering, we have an opportunity to choose how we will respond. Even something as simple as encountering a rude driver, gives us opportunity to respond with love or rage toward the other driver.

But, suppose you received the blessing of an unexpected $10,000 check? You are presented with an opportunity to build some character by choosing to either spend it all on yourself, or to use some of it to bless someone else. Or, maybe you will decide to practice some godly wisdom and use it to pay off your debts so you can finally have some extra money to bless people often. Regardless of what the blessing is, my point is that you are given an OPPORTUNITY to practice good character or self-centeredness.

So, suffering isn’t the only situation that builds character. Too often, a traumatic situation creates the opposite character - anger, fear, resentment, and a wrong concept of God’s love. In addition, accepting bad experiences as a tool in the hands of god can often attract even more bad experiences.

Bad experiences certainly give us opportunities to choose our response, but they are not necessary, nor are they part of God’s character-building tools.

‘It is the GOODNESS of God that works repentance’ the Bible tells us. Repentance is simply a change of mind - changing how we will respond to a situation. Therefore, the situation is not supposed to be a negative one.

So, if we want to learn to respond with loving character consistently, we should be looking for positive experiences to give us opportunity to choose our response.

Let’s get rid of the idea that in order to have godly character, we have to suffer, struggle and hurt. Ironically, none of these are even part of God’s true nature at all! Therefore, these experiences are contrary to being like God.