Frederick Nietzsche said, “Every talent must unfold itself in fighting.”
What’s he saying? He’s saying that growth in any area comes with a price — and that price is struggle. We experience nothing worthwhile without first passing through some kind of adversity — the adversity of opposition, the adversity of lost sleep, the adversity of financial pressure, the adversity of loneliness, the adversity of delayed gratification. To be good at anything, a price must first be paid.
To be in good health, the price is paid through exercise and diet. To be a good a musician the price is paid through study and rehearsal. To be successful in business, the price is paid through long hours and sacrifice. To paraphrase Nietzsche’s words: growth comes only as a result of struggle.
Paul knew that he was in the midst of a fight. He knew that in order to become the man of God he wanted to be, he must daily enter the battlefield to contend with an enemy: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV)
It will do us good to remember that we are engaged in battle, day-in, day-out. It’s not a struggle that can be seen with the human eye, but it can certainly be felt with the human spirit. This struggle cannot be avoided; it must be confronted. On the other side, however, victory awaits us, because we do not fight unarmed. We carry with us the full armor of God: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit and the helmet of salvation.
Peter tells us not to be surprised at the fiery trials we face; they’re part of the process of growing in Christ. Every talent must unfold itself in fighting; growth comes through struggle.
Where are you struggling today? In a relationship? In your work? In your effort to be holy? The obstacle will not disappear on its own. It belongs there. You are called to confront it, through the power of Christ within you, until you can claim victory.
