Hard Times Create Strong Men
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And weak men create hard times.” — G. Michael Hopf, Those Who Remain
Looking at the state of men in 2025, you will likely agree that our good times have created weak men, and now, our weak men are creating hard time. It is true, that there is “nothing new under the sun.” If you ever read the book of Judges, you will see this quote unfold over and over again. Though Judges takes place over four millennia before Hopf penned his insightful commentary, it was just as true then as it is today.
After crossing the Jordan river and claiming the promised land under the strong and courageous leadership of Joshua, Israel entered a season of prosperity and peace (good times). Under Joshua, the battle cry of every man of Israel was, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Enjoying the comfort of the promised land, the men of Israel grew complacent, self-centered, and spiritually weak (weak men). Judges records, “And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:10) Eventually, in their weakness, the foreign nations oppressed them and life becomes bitter (hard times). Finally, in their suffering, they cried out to God, and He each time He raised up a deliverer (a Judge) — like Gideon (strong men). That strong man would lead them to victory and bring peace (good times)... until the cycle would start all over again. “Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge... But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers.” Judges 2:18-19. The pattern repeats because men often don’t see the value of discipline and suffering, placing comfort as their highest value. Comfort has a way of numbing a man to the purpose of God in his life.
If your life is comfortable, problem free, and easy, be careful, because without resistance and weight, your character and spiritual strength will atrophy. If you're in a hard time, take heart: God is chiseling you. Ever trials and test is intended to grow your strength and steadfastness - “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” James 1:2- 3.
Wherever you are in your journey, you can be certain that God is not finished with you yet. There is still work to be done, progress to be made, and a masterpiece to be revealed from the old block of raw material we once were.
CHISELED: The Trials & Tools That Transform a Man is a new IMPACT Cohort study for men who want to learn how to embrace growth in the midst of struggle, suffering, disappointment or discipline. If you want to be the man, husband, father, and leader you are created to be, you must be willing to be chiseled. Join or start an IMPACT Cohort and participate in this 7 week study. Start growing here.
National Director | IMPACT Players
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