I like to ride my bike on a popular bike trail. As I ride I see many different riders riding different types of bikes. Often I see riders whizzing past me on their skinny little racing bikes. Sometimes they fly past me at such high speeds that I feel 
like I'm standing still. Yet when I'm tempted to feel inferior I remind myself that we are riding different types of bikes; each created to serve different purposes. I have a mountain bike, and it's wider and heavier than a racing bike. My bike may not go as fast because it's built to handle the rough terrain. My bike can handle the bumpy, rocky places and keep going strong. There are all these wonderful little dirt hills that veer off the main concrete path that only mountain bikes can handle. I purposely chose a mountain bike because I wanted to be able to endure rough terrain. I was looking for strength, not speed.
Well the Holy Spirit started showing me the parallels in our Christian walk. There are many people on the path, and each of us was built to handle what God created us for. We can't compare ourselves to others, nor should we doubt that we will be able to handle the path God has laid out for us. I got really encouraged as I realized that if God leads me down rocky bumpy paths I can trust I was built to handle it. I was made to climb mountains, to endure rough places, to take the road less traveled and still come out strong.
God's Beloved, I pray that regardless of how challenging the path before you may appear; you'll have peace that you were created to face the challenge. And not just to face it, but to conquer it victoriously, and to enjoy the ride. J
