Say it! Say "Uncle!"

Remember the feeling of being crammed into a headlock by your older brother, or having your arm stretched and twisted beyond what nature intended, and having that voice echoing through your ear screaming, "Say it!  Say uncle!"

There is a knee jerk reaction that wants to give in and accept relief from the pain and suffering, but then there is that voice from within that hates to lose.  Which one wins? 

When life throws those arm twisting and head lock giving struggles your way, what is your knee jerk response?  Do you scream uncle at the first twitch of pain?  Or do you avoid that voice for the other one, the one that says my God is greater than my uncle!

Scripture tells us to "rejoice in our sufferings" and to "consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials."  This is among the most absurd of statements made in Scripture...to the unbeliever.  How can the believer see the compromising positions that life has for us in a different light than others?  How can we shout praise to our Lord instead of shouting for salvation from our family?  Because...

Perseverance = Character = Hope

Faith that is stretched and pushed to it's breaking point, results in greater faith.  Faith that cries uncle at the first sight of trouble, is stunted in growth and will likely never leave the playground in which it is tortured by it's bullies.  And consider this, the hope that is produced by perseverance and character may be the hope that someone else needs...crying uncle may not only leave you weak, it could leave others weak as well.

(Rom. 5, James 1)