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“Anybody who isn’t being challenged or stretched is probably deteriorating.”

A thought by Ray Johnston (2014-05-13) from his book, The Hope Quotient: Measure It. Raise It. You'll Never Be the Same. (p.102). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

I have been retired now for over 5 years and I have found this to be very true.  I found early on that if I was going to survive in retirement I needed challenges to keep me moving forward physically, relationally, mentally and spiritually. 

Ray shares, “In 1982, two Soviet cosmonauts broke a record by spending 211 days in space. Television cameras prepared for the two guys to return. A band waited to wave flags and lead the triumphant parade celebrating the accomplishment of communism.

“The door opened. The band played. The people cheered. The television cameras zoomed in. And nothing happened. Weak from months of inactivity, the cosmonauts were unable to stand up. Zero-gravity living had deteriorated their muscles to the point where they had to be carried from their seats. They broke endurance records but could not stand or walk for months because their hearts were no longer strong enough to pump blood even twelve inches to their brains. In response, the Soviets invented a ‘penguin suit,’ which is basically an athletic suit laced with rubber bands that cause constant resistance. By wearing a penguin suit, muscles continue to develop and are spared from atrophy.”

Ray then says, “Let me admit this: I long for a zero-gravity life with no problems, no resistance, no challenges, and no stress, but God knows better. He knows that we need some resistance and some challenges because the easier our lives are, the weaker our spiritual muscles will become.”

James 1:2 – 4 (MSG) says, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.  You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true color.  So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely.  Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”

So how are your challenges developing you?
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