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by Ruth O’Neil
In science class there was at least one lesson on batteries. Since I’m not a science teacher I probably will not explain this very well, but here goes. Every battery has two important parts (probably more, but again, I’m no science teacher and only want to focus on those. Those two parts are the cathode and the anode. They are also known as the positive and negative sides to a battery. When you insert multiple batteries into an item, you alternate the positive and negative sides. The positive and goes up on one where it goes down on the next. In order for a battery to work, there must be both positives and negatives.
It’s funny how we don’t think twice about that for batteries, but when it comes to our lives we would much rather only have all positives. However, it’s a combination of those positives and negatives that make us who we are.
You didn’t gain strength because everything in your life was positive.
You didn’t learn perseverance because everything in your life was positive.
You didn’t glean life lessons because everything in your life was positive.
These negative experiences, or difficult times in our lives, are what make us grow. As Christians these negative experiences will probably become more numerous as society moves farther away from God. God never promised life would be easy. He never promised wealth. He never promised perfect relationships among all of our family members. While God wants it for us, He never promised there would be unity, even in our churches.
If you need examples, just think of the many, many people in the Bible who were formed by positive and negative situations in their lives.
Even after Esther’s parents died, she had a loving uncle that stepped up to take care of her and teach her in the ways of the Lord. But then she hit hard times when the king essentially forced her into his harem. Those different times in her life made her who she was. God blessed her because she remained faithful to Him.
The Apostle Paul certainly had positives and negatives in his life. As Saul he knew position, power, and wealth, but God had a higher calling for him that involved some pretty big negatives – prison, beatings, a thorn in the flesh. But those situations formed Paul and made us remember him and look to his teachings still today. Those teachings wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for positives and negatives in his live.
Look back on your own life. Can you see that where you grew, learned, and matured as a person with the times that were may be less than desirable? The negative times? Just as you need positive times in your life, the negative ones are necessary as well.
About the Author:
Ruth O’Neil has been writing for over 20 years. She has published hundreds of articles in numerous publications. She loves to touch the emotions when she writes. “If I can make one person laugh or cry, I’ll consider myself successful.” Her first novel “Come Eat at My Table” has just come out in ebook form and can be purchased on her website. She homeschools her three children (well, one now, as two have graduated). She and her husband have been married for 20-plus years. In her spare time she enjoys quilting, crafting, and reading. You can visit her on her blog at ruths-real-life (dot)blogspot.com or her website at ruthoneil (dot)weebly.com
