Look Beyond your Struggle

 

When my husband proposed, I was completely caught off guard. I had just started my first year of graduate school, and the last thing I wanted was to plan a wedding. Looking back, I probably should have taken the semester off, as it was one of the busiest and most stressful times of my life.

 

After countless hours of schoolwork and studying, I tried to find time to handle the many wedding arrangements and details. I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t see beyond the wedding day.  So many hours went into endless preparations and delegations.

 

When the day finally arrived, I was amazed at how much we enjoyed it and how quickly it passed. The next day, I woke up pleasantly surprised to remember that we were going on our honeymoon to the Bahamas. I had been so consumed with preparations that I couldn’t envision anything beyond the wedding day itself.

 

This season of my life reminded me that during difficult times, it can be hard to see beyond the present struggles. It often feels like they will never end, making it hard to imagine anything good just around the corner.

 

Rachel from the Old Testament likely felt the same way. She endured a very difficult labor while giving birth to her second child. This labor ultimately took her life, and as she was passing away, she named him Benoni, meaning "son of my trouble." She was so consumed by her present pain and suffering.

Jacob, the baby's father, however, changed his name to Benjamin, which means "son of my right hand." Jacob was able to see beyond the pain and envisioned the making of his right-hand man.

 

This story beautifully illustrates that when we go through seasons of trial, difficulty, and suffering, these moments can keep us from seeing the other side of the picture, where God is shaping a right-hand woman or man for himself.