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Military Boot camp prepares recruits for the jobs they’ll be asked to perform. When they enter service, they leave behind pets, friends, and most of their personal items. Training includes jogging, sprinting, pushups, sit-ups, and stretching —all of these disciplines prepare them to serve their country. In a sense, military life is like serving the Lord. God calls us to a life of discipline so we can function successfully in a hostile environment. Like it or not, the world is not a friend of Jesus. And to equip us for victory, God lets us to have various experiences to refine our character and strengthen our capacity to resist evil. We see an example of this in the book of Judges CH. 2. God said of ancient Israel, “Because these people have violated my covenant, which I made with their ancestors, and have ignored my commands, I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died. I did this to test Israel – to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the Lord as their ancestors did.” Sometimes God permits us to have trouble to test or refine our faith. Yet even then, He offers himself as a source of strength. As we trust Him, He enables us to win in the end. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
