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Life is difficult.
When I was 22, I was introduced to a book that had a great impact on me. It has helped me many times over on my life journey including jobs, friendships, marriage, raising children among many others.
At 22, I had just completed a summer being a camp counselor at Camp Hiawatha in Deer Creek, MN. After we closed camp and finished our outreach to area churches, I spent a few days with a mentor friend who was a few years older than me. She had just finished reading the book, "A Road Less Traveled" by M. Scott Peck, M.D. She encouraged me to take a look and read it if I wanted to during our few days together decompressing and unwinding. Once I read the first line I couldn't put the book down.
I remember like it was yesterday, laying on the sofa in her small living room and opening the book to the first page and reading this sentence, "Life is difficult." Those three words spoke deeply to me and so I kept on reading. "This is the greatest truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult - once we truly understand and accept it - then life is no longer difficult. Because once it's accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters."
This made so much sense. So I wondered to myself, why as a Christian am I surprised when difficulties come? Jesus never promised us a life that would be without them. In fact he was very clear.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Take heart.
Just this week I have people that I love who are facing great difficulties.
- One of my sweet little buddies had another difficult and painful surgery. He’s only 5! All he wanted was to feel better so he could go home and be with his family. Take heart.
- One of my dearest friends is waiting to have a second surgery this week so she can continue fighting another difficult battle with cancer. Take heart.
- I know parents and children who are struggling with fall, school and work schedules. They’ve had to ask themselves many difficult questions about how this will all work. Take heart.
What does difficult mean for you right now – in this moment and at this time? If you're not experiencing difficult times right now, listen to your heart - who might need you in their difficult time?
In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus taught us these words, "Give us this day." Not tomorrow, not next week or the next event....he said, "this day."
All we have is today. Yes, it is important to faithfully and thoughtfully plan. However, this is God's world, the winds of change are blowing and even with the best of planning, we need to be adaptable, flexible and full of grace for each other, because no matter how hard we plan - things don't always go the way "we" had hoped.....and that my friends, is o.k. because as we know, life is difficult. But, take heart because we have a God who has overcome the world. Our God is full of grace. Give yourself grace. Give grace to others and take heart.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.
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