Why is it that my mind seems to be constantly bombarded by this idea ‘It shouldn’t be this hard?’ What is it about our culture that brings that thought back to my mind time and time again?
It doesn’t really matter what it is that we’re doing. It shouldn’t be this hard. Sometimes it’s actually helpful. It’s definitely the number one reason that I love strategic thinking. I love those times when you realize it didn’t have to be that hard. I love those times when you are able to work smarter not harder. It’s that thought that drives me in those discoveries.
At the same time however, it’s that thought that plagues me. It’s that thought that rings through my mind when the truth is hard. Whether it’s being a husband or a father or a pastor. Sometimes it’s just hard. Sometimes you have to realize that although Paul was an incredible leader, his life was incredibly hard. I don’t know how else you would describe the life of someone who was beaten, imprisoned, stoned, and shipwrecked. It’s just hard.
Today I’m going back to James. Today I’m going back to this idea of finding joy in trials. In spite of the difficulty Paul still sang. In spite of the pain, he still rejoiced embracing the obstacles and realizing that the pain free stress-free life was not God’s goal. God’s goal was that Paul would become more like Christ and experience the incredible (yet hard) life that comes with that.
Christopherhigh.com 