That’s so Hard
Parents, how many times have you heard your children say, “But that’s so HARD!” Ok, let’s be honest, how many times have YOU said that, too?
Don’t you just love the commercial with the big red easy button? Wouldn’t it be nice if we could push one and have life be easy as well? Of course when we watch the commercial, we know it doesn’t really work that way. Or do we? Sometimes we seem very shocked when life isn’t easy, so maybe we think there really is an easy button!
Our children have said that to us as well. Now they know what we will say next: “Hard is not bad, hard is just…hard!” Yes, it is hard to do the right thing. Yes, it is hard to orient my life around loving God and others as He has told me. But here’s the news flash…the way of the transgressor is hard, too (Prov 13:15).
Sometimes we think it is a choice between doing the hard thing (glorifying God) or doing the easy thing (what comes naturally to me…typically glorifying me). But that isn’t reality. I DO have to choose between the kingship of “me” and the kingship of God. But I would suggest that neither one is easy.
I was talking with a friend once about an unwanted pregnancy. What would be the easy thing to do? She suggested that it wasn’t loving to have the child and that it would be easier, and therefore more loving, to support her in having an abortion. Putting aside the wrong view of love, let’s just look at the assumption that one is easier than the other. I suggested she talk with a good friend of mine who has had an abortion in her past. She would NOT tell you that was or is easy for her. She knows a God of grace but still knows she took the life of a child. She lives with that. And it’s not easy.
Easy isn’t an option
The reality is that we live in a sin cursed world in sin cursed bodies with other sin cursed people. Easy just isn’t an option. And, if we’re honest with ourselves, we know that is true. Try living completely as you naturally want – forget trying to please God or love others. How does that work for you? Do you find yourself joyful and content? Or agitated as you try to control those things that you are deceived into believing will make you happy?
Once we realize that easy just isn’t even one of the options on the table, we can quit being distracted and deceived by that possibility. Our options are: doing the hard thing, with the help of God, with a lasting purpose, and with a peace that results or doing the hard thing that leads to destruction and more hard things!
Easy WILL be an option
It isn’t wrong that we long for things to be easier. It’s just not reality to think that easy comes this side of heaven. For those who have humbled themselves before God and trusted in His Son, Jesus, an easy day is coming! I’m so thankful this isn’t all there is. But, until then, I’ll stop clamoring after what is easy and choose which hard thing would be wisest!
[Thanks to Brent Aucoin for contributing to this post.]