By Mike Vandermause

We used to call them “gut busters.”

Every Monday and Wednesday during my four-year tenure as a University of Wisconsin middle distance runner, we would get put through the ringer in practice. The grueling workouts devised by our coach were difficult, even painful.

So why do I have such fond memories of that experience? No. 1, there was a great feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction around getting put to the test and surviving. No. 2, I was pushed beyond my capacity, beyond what I thought I was capable of achieving. No. 3, those practices prepared me well for my weekend meets when I would compete in the 800-meter run and 1,600-meter relay. No. 4, the discipline those workouts required served as a great life lesson.

Our coach was demanding, but I knew he had my best interest at heart. He motivated me to give my absolute all during practice. He was building endurance and character in me and helping me to get better.

Those college track memories help me resonate with Day 22 of Rick Warren’s devotional book  when he writes: “God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. … Life is supposed to be difficult. It’s what enables us to grow.”

Imagine if my college track coach was more worried about my comfort than my development. I would have never amounted to a hill of beans on the track. I was nowhere near great as a college runner, but I credit my coach with helping me maximize my talents. It led to some incredible experiences, like running at the indoor nationals, being part of a school-record relay team, lettering all four years of my college career and getting named team co-captain as a senior.

None of that would have been possible if I hadn’t been faithfully committed to the unglamorous, challenging practice sessions that laid a solid foundation.

I see a lot of similarities in my life as a Christ follower. Like my track coach, God is more interested in my development than my comfort. Thus, I can more readily embrace some difficult circumstances and try to view them not as obstacles but opportunities for growth.

During a particularly tough recent stretch of time, I suffered the death of two close family members, a bout with cancer and the loss of a job. There were hard days, and I’m not going to pretend I was always joyful and thankful. Yet I know those tough times made me stronger and deepened my faith.

It’s unrealistic to think that as a Christian my life will always run smoothly. I am not entitled to comfort, good health, happiness and a conflict-free life. I know that God is continually molding and shaping me, and that his plan is to make me more like Jesus. I also know sometimes that process involves gut-busting days.

Mike Vandermause is communications director at Green Bay Community Church