In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand.

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.

Every problem in life gives us two opportunities to grow. We have the opportunity to grow stronger or to grow bitter. It is our choice. We can seize the problem and try to overcome it and therefore grow stronger or we can let the problem get a hold of us and destroy our faith, our attitudes and our joy.

Listen to the Word of God, in I Corinthians 10:13, "..but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted (tried or tested) beyond what you are able (..to endure), but with that temptation (trial) will also make a way of escape that you be able to bear it." God weighs out the tests, the trials, the temptations of life and allows us only to face what we can handle. You see that problem.. God knows you can handle it. God believes in your faith, your strength and your ability to overcome that circumstance.

God doesn't put obstacles in our path to destroy us. He knows that we can overcome them if we choose. We may not always win over the problem but we become wiser, stronger and better able to help others through our struggle.

So don't worry about the problems of life, the obstacles that you face, you can overcome them. You can grow stronger and you will be better equipped for the future because God believes in you.