"Heroes aren't born in the final chapter, but rather they are shaped and molded by the tribulations of the plot."
This has been a phrase that has been running through my head for the past week or so. When we read books, the heroes always reach their peak of glory at the end of the story. They save the day, defeat their inner demons, and win the heart of a beautiful girl. However, they weren't always at this glorious point in their lives where they are admirable heroes.
Bilbo started off weak, Katniss began terrified, and Edmund Pevensie began his tale as a selfish little boy. The heroes never start off the story in the same manner that they finish it. Their greatness has to be earned. These heroes weren't just magically transformed into the captivating characters that save the day, but rather they have to shaped and molded by the tribulations of the plot. Bilbo had to persevere through the goblin caves, Katniss had to survive the Hunger Games, and Edmund had to face the consequences of betraying his siblings. Each character had valleys in his or her life that they had to battle through. These valleys were a time of trial, but also times of great growth which left them stronger and more prepared for the events which laid ahead of them.
Each of us must also face the inevitable moments when we must pass through these dark valleys. It is not a matter of whether the storms will come, but rather when. We will have our own metaphorical goblin caves or Hunger Games to battle through, but when we come face to face with these hard times we are also face a choice: we can either feel sorry for ourselves and wait for them to be over, or we can pick ourselves up, persevere, and grow.
The trials of life will come. We don't choose pain, sorrow, or darkness; unfortunately they choose us. However, we can choose how we react to them. These valleys in our lives can simply be dark times in our lives, or they can be dark times that grow us. James speaks on this in chapter 1:2-4 when he says, "Count it all joy, my bothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.(ESV)"
Without rain, and storms, and clouds there can never be any growth. That being said, I am fully aware that it is one thing to talk about growing in the valleys, and considering trials to be pure joy and opportunities of growth, and it is completely different to try and apply this to our own personal periods of darkness. When approached correctly, these periods can be times where you grow stronger as a person and in your faith. In Romans 5:3-4 Paul says, "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. (ESV)"
One day, after you have emerged victoriously from the depths of your valley, you'll be able to look back at your own story. You'll be able to see how you persevered, and emerged stronger than ever before. Because, just like the heroes of the stories we read, we can't automatically emerge as heroes, but rather we are shaped and molded by the tribulations of our own story.
