Being Challenged.....

Challenge. I love to be challenged. That is until it makes me feel uncomfortable and shows me my struggles. Then I feel the pain!

When I first met my husband one of the things that intrigued me the most was that he challenged me. He wasn't negative nor did he just point out my faults but he encouraged me to be the best me I could be. He likes competition, so do I. We played games, cards, basketball, all to the highest level of competition that we could. Sometimes he won, sometimes I won. He challenged me in intelligence also. He pushed me to learn. I never knew how much I loved to learn.

In my adult life I have learned my love of being challenged. I take on most challenges with fervor. I began to look at the things I did not enjoy being challenged with and found that in those times the thing I did not like was the ones that pushed me into areas where I saw my failures more than the ability to grow.

Not embracing challenges is when I question God the most. Why is he making me do this? Why is this happening to me? Why do I have to go through a time of testing? Why me?

When I am challenged to leave my comfort zone, I have learned to embrace rather than run. I strive to embrace what God is doing in my life and the growth he is forging in my spirit. It is not comfortable, it is not easy. In the end, it is exactly what I need to see growth in my spiritual life. I embrace the challenge to grow in God's Word, in His guidance to live a more Godly life. Each day I embrace the challenge that God has put forth. Each day I recognize all the growth potential there is! Each day I embrace His love and His push to be a better me in Him. The best me I can be in God's eyes!

What are you finding challenging lately? Is God refining you as a Christian and pushing you into an area that is outside your comfort zone? What can you do to embrace the challenge and find the growth?