“Why is life so hard? It’s because you’re doing it right.”
Sure, taken out of context (or stated to a non-believer), it's not necessarily a true statement. But, it was poignant this past weekend, as our teaching pastor talked about how abundant life in Christ is rarely easy and how disillusioned (or, worse — shallow) that has left American Christians. He told us God HAS promised us peace and good things, but ease? Not so much.
Good word.
Yet, we expect ease, don't we? In fact, we angle for it. We spend out lives pursuing it. But, any read of Scripture puts us face to face with a faith hall of fame that dealt with crap upon crap — pain, imprisonment, delayed gratification, battle, loss, embarrassment, etc., etc — and only became "great" out of the growth it all sparked.
How can we ignore that truth?
I'm not saying we should expect crap because we love God, I'm just saying that maybe we should anticipate it … and let it draw us nearer to Him and His purposes. And that in the midst of the crap, maybe we should hold tight to what I was reading just this weekend in Joshua 1: "Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go."
Currently playing: "Smoke a Little Smoke" by Eric Church
"I wanna a little more right and a little less left, a little more "right now," a little less "what's next," act like tomorrow's ten years away and just kick back and let the feeling flow ..."