Is Life Really Like A Box Of Chocolates?

In the movie Forrest Gump, Forrest meets a nurse while sitting on a park bench. He asks her if she would like a piece of chocolate from his box of chocolates. She doesn't respond. He then tells her, "My mama always said that life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna' get" (see video).

Was Forrest Gump's mama right? Is life really like a box of chocolates? In some aspects, it is, for we never know what  we're gonna' get. But from the apostle Paul's perspective, life was more like a box of challenges — some presenting a greater degree of challenge than others.

In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul presents a list of challenges that confronted him, but he was determined to endure them all for Christ's sake (2 Corinthians 12:10). He knew that the trials and tribulations he endured would only last for a moment of time in comparison to the joys that he would experience in eternity (Philippians 4:4; cf. Romans 12:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; 1 Peter 4:12-13). In fact, he classified them as a "light affliction" in comparison to those things which are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18; cf. Romans 8:18; 1 Peter 1:3-9).

How will we respond to life's many challenges?

Hopefully, we'll respond in the exact same way that the apostle Paul responded by truly trusting in the Lord (Philippians 4:6), totally relying on Him for our strength to endure any and all challenges that life confronts us with (Philippians 4:13).

Beloved, relying on the strength God provides us, let us therefore "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14 ESV).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets