Growing up, I thought life would get easier, and by the time I was an adult, I would have control of my life. My destiny. And situations. Problems, hardships, and trials were not supposed to be part of my forever happy story.
Maybe you thought the same thing. Turns out, though, life doesn’t work that way.
I haven’t yet met anyone who as an adult hasn’t encountered hardship. Because whether we like it or not, life is hard. And bad things happen to good people and not so good people. Guaranteed.
What makes us think life wouldn’t be hard?
Where did we get this notion that life is not hard?
Because since the Garden expulsion, people have not had it easy. Sin, suffering, death, and hardship have been a constant.
And yet, we still cling to the lie that if we make the right choices, do the right thing, we can control our destiny. Control situations. Control ourselves and others. Just maybe, we can be the first person to not experience hardship, and instead have a blessed and easy life.
Experience does not support this lie. The bible does not support this notion. History does not support this leaning tower of blocks called happily-ever-after and easy-street. This win-against-the odds and be the only one with a charmed life is a fairy tale.
Jesus said they persecuted him, and that they will persecute you. Every bible person experienced hardship. But still, we hope to escape hard. Say no to our fair share.
I know it seems pretty silly. The truth is: this life is hard. For you, me, and everyone.
Easy street and happily-ever-after exists, but only in the next life where there will be no sadness, no death, no sin, no regrets.
That is what we cling to. That this is not our final place. We can live in the good place. The easy place. But only after walking through the hard down here.
Why we need to acknowledge that life is hard.
Not all of life is hard. Tough seasons mixed with easier seasons often tumble together. But there will be hard parts. Most definitely. There will also be beauty, joy, good, and laughter stirred in. And God wants us to cling to and enjoy these. They are good gifts from him and help ease the hard. Soften its edges.
Jesus knows about hard. He lived here and walked through hard. That’s why he promises to never leave or forsake us. It’s why he promises to carry our burdens, to give us his spirit, peace, love, joy, grace, and mercy. Not in small doses, but in overflowing doses, if we accept them and embrace them.
He promises to use the hard and difficult to refine us, grow us, and strengthen us, if we submit and allow him to use us.
But he never promises an easy life. Or that if we just say the right thing or do the right thing, our life will be easy and pain free.
Hard comes to rich and poor alike. So does pain.
Just like grace and mercy can be gifts to anyone with hands and hearts to hold them. We don’t want to think something is wrong with us when life is hard. Nor do we want to minimize and pretend that life is not hard.
We do ourselves and others a disservice when we don’t acknowledge that life can be hard. When we judge the hard parts of life as not normal. When we think that hardships mean something is wrong with us or view it as a punishment.
We need to stop basing our worth, day, or feelings on whether our life is currently in a hard season or not. Experiencing hard times in life does not mean we are on the wrong track, that God doesn’t love us, or that we are less than.
It is best to realize that life is hard. Believe that life is hard. Acknowledge that life is hard. Because when we talk about it, the hard parts of life are easier. It is encouraging to others and helps them feel not so alone. It helps others see they can survive and get through their hard parts.
Hard times are not pleasant. But if we are obedient and faithful, God will redeem our hard times to our benefit. And then if we share and talk about our hard times, our struggles can encourage and benefit those around us.
Remember, life on earth is the hardest part, but not the final part.
The easy part (they-lived-happily-ever-after) comes next. And lasts for eternity. And that’s something to look forward to!
I unwrap life with words to encourage, entertain, and bring forth laughter. A positive and enthusiastic lover of life and its graces, I help the weary regain hope, laugh, and not feel alone. Visit my blog, Things to Remember, to be encouraged and remember what’s important. Listen to my podcast, Life as it Comes, to hear funny stories and observations about life. Visit my blog!
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