All the Hard Things

The easy way is the way of losers.

Now, don’t get your knickers in a twist. It doesn’t mean what you think it means. Let me ‘splain.

Have you ever been in the middle of a challenging circumstance or experience and said “I wish…” as in:

– I wish this would just go away
– I wish my life had turned out differently
– I wish I had listened
– I wish I could go back in time and get a do-over
– I wish things could just be easier.

Sometimes when we face hardship (okay, maybe many times) our immediate knee-jerk reaction is to say “I wish…” and fill in the blank with whatever our circumstances are not.

My dad is currently going through all the things that come from a cancer diagnosis. Doctor’s appointments, treatments, weight loss, exhaustion…and I wish things were different. I will be brutally honest and say I wish he would have died in his sleep rather than have to go through all of this. It’s really hard to watch. I’ve cried a lot of tears over it.

The thing is, he isn’t going through it alone. He lives with my sister and her family, and this is absolutely their trial, too. They have the daily role of helping him do EVERYTHING, on top of scheduling doctor appointments, missing work to take him to all the places, figuring out billing and insurance and VA coverage. They have the unfortunate front-row seat to his decline.

This trial is mine as I watch and pray mostly from the sidelines, knowing there is very little I can do to help. It’s my brother’s as he takes it all in and processes from California. Surely we ALL wish things were different.

But wishing away the hard things in life never did anyone any good. Wishing does not make it reality. As much as the world will tell you that you can manifest what you want in life, that simply isn’t true.

If it were, I would have done it a million times over already.

When we go through hard things, we gain strength. We gain determination. We learn to trust our perfect God who does all things well. Hard things make us better people, because suffering is where it’s at.

Who ever became more compassionate, gentle, patient, self-controlled from a life with no speed bumps or challenges? “A faith that is untested cannot be trusted.” [Warren Weirsbe paraphrase]

The Scriptures tell us that God has a purpose for tribulation.

Romans 5:1-5
(1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
(2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
(3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
(4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
(5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

We have peace with God. We stand in grace. We rejoice in hope. We glory in tribulations. We stand unashamed. We walk in the love of God.

It is clear from this passage that the key to growth is tribulation. You want spiritual growth? Stop wishing away the hard things, and lean into the strength of the Lord. Remember your standing in Jesus. He walks alongside you!

When we wish away or avoid hard things, we lose out on developing our faith muscles. We don’t get to see God’s Word work in our hearts and minds to bring peace. We don’t gain victories over our flesh, including the words that come out of our mouth. We don’t get to see the Spirit lead us through the valley, strengthening and changing us so we are different when we come out the other side. We don’t experience humbling ourselves before God, presenting our laments, and letting Him help and heal us through prayer.

We lose out on a whole lot. Can you see now that the easy way is the way of losers?

Whatever your challenge is today, remember that there is a purpose for your pain. Growth happens in the depths of tribulation. Don’t wish it away. Draw closer to God.

We have peace with God. We stand in grace. We rejoice in hope. We glory in tribulations. We stand unashamed. We walk in the love of God.

Amen and amen.