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Challenges make you stronger …

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a one-room log cabin, located on a farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky (a state that permitted slavery at the time). When he was only nine years old, his mother died. To support the family, he worked a neighboring farm which denied him the opportunity to go to school. The total amount of formal education Lincoln received was less than one year. Yet this would only be the beginning of a life of hardships, trials and difficulties, all of which was ultimately used to shape his life into becoming the greatest President in the history of our nation. To help put it in perspective, here is an amazing chart of the challenges that Lincoln was faced with.

Maybe you are feeling discouraged because you haven’t achieved your dreams? Don’t be. Worthwhile goals and aspirations will always take time to accomplish. Although Lincoln faced countless insurmountable obstacles, he did not give up. He never quit. He was determined and committed to make his dreams come true, he would get up each time he was knocked down. He must have known 2 Corinthians chapter four by heart! I think of many in scripture also pursued God’s call in spite of the cost: Abraham (whom Lincoln is named after) comes to mind. So do Joseph, Elijah, Esther and Moses. Certainly, the greatest Biblical comparison to Lincoln would be that of Christ Himself. He too faced death at the hands of his critics, and yet was able to rise above the opposition and perfect what Lincoln could only accomplish in part.

Lincoln once said: 

”If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, the shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how, the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what’s said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.” 



Let’s face it… if you’re not being some fire and attacks, you’re not being very effective. Attacks and confrontation is just part of being in ministry. But Lincoln had a great perspective on his critics and he remained focused on doing the right thing instead of making people happy. He always kept perspective! The long-term results of his actions far outweighed the short-term voice of his critics. Spurgeon provides great insight:

“Many hearers lose much blessing by criticizing too much and meditating too little; and many more incur great sin by calumniating those who live for the good of others. True pastors have enough stress and travail without being burdened by undeserved and useless fault-finding. We have something better to do than to be forever answering every malignant or frivolous slander which is set afloat to injure us. There are tender, loving spirits who feel the trial very keenly, and are sadly hindered in brave service by cruel assaults. The rougher and stronger among us laugh at those who ridicule us, but upon others the effect is very sorrowful. As ministers we are very far from being perfect, but many of us are doing our best, and we are grieved that the minds of our people should be more directed to our personal imperfections than to our divine message. Filled with the same spirit of contrariety, the men of this world still depreciate the ministers whom God sends them and profess that they would gladly listen if different preachers could be found. Nothing can please them, their cavils are dealt out with heedless universality. Cephas is too blunt, Apollos is too flowery, Paul is too argumentative, Timothy is too young, James is too severe, John is too gentle. Well then, let each servant of God tell his message in his own way. To his own Master he shall stand or fall. Judge the preacher if you like, but do remember that there is something better to be done than that, namely, to get all the good you can out of him, and pray his Master to put more good into him.”

So on this President’s birthday weekend, let us be resolved to remain persistent to the God call of God, to the task He has entrusted to us, and let us never waver in it.