Hardship has a way of making us better people with a more impactful message, if we care enough to accept it. There is little doubt that the loss of my wife years ago has made me a better man. In truth, I would gladly trade any shred of personal character development created by the dark pit of grief to have my wife back. However, I do not have that choice, so I must make the best of the life God has given me.
Something similar happened to the prophet Ezekiel about 2,500 years ago:
“Son of man, with one blow I will take away your dearest treasure... So I proclaimed this to the people the next morning, and in the evening my wife died,” (Ezekiel 24.16-18 NLT).
Your gamut of experiences shape your message to the world. It could be said, "You are your message." Isn't that exactly what Paul tried to convey in 2nd Corinthians 3.2-3? “Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it...”
