LIFE IS HARD
“Once we admit life is hard, it is no longer difficult.” – Scott Peck
It baffles me when people; notably Fred Crowell, think we deserve an easy life. Somehow the tendency is to believe if we are a good person and work hard, we deserve to have a prosperous life.
A few years ago we did an NBC Camp for the Tulalip Tribe. The coaches were guests at the five-star hotel.
Each morning it was necessary to walk through the gaming area for breakfast. One morning, bitterness gripped me as I watched hundreds of folks smoking cigarettes, eating plates full of junk food, and getting one arm exercises, pulling the lever for the hope of a coin.
My question to God was, “How come I got cancer, and these people who are abusing their bodies, look cancer-free to me?”
I’m not going to answer this question, because I don’t know the answer. However, I do know what God expects me to do with the hand that has been dealt to me.
My reality is that life is very difficult, and the rain falls on the just as well as on the unjust.
In James McDonald’s book, “When Life is HARD” he challenges us with three assumptions:
- When life is hard, it is for a reason. Do you know what trials are? And do you know God’s purpose for them?
- Don’t be indifferent when trials come your way. If they are not already here, they are coming.
- Get the full benefit from these trials. Life is short, and eternity is very long.
My resolve has been to embrace the fact that life is hard, very hard.
Like the captain of the ship, I will not run from hardship, deny that it exists, or blame it on others. No, I will face my hardship by going into the storm, knowing that all things work together for good. To those that love God, to those that are called according to His purpose.
My game plan is to imitate those who have gone before me. Men, women, even children who have lived courageously, lived fearlessly, embraced life with passion, and loved relentlessly.
The book of James has played a major role in my foundation for winning the moment so that I can win the day.
James admonishes and encourages us with these powerful words:
“When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you’ll be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” – James 1:2-4
