The Gift of Hard Things
November 18, 2022
Todays post speaks to the reality that life is sometimes hard, doesn’t always go the way we hope, but we are not alone.
HARD THINGS SOMETIMES HELP
Most of us have not been equipped to be encouraged by the hard things in life … there are many …Imperfectly I have learned that if I can stay with the discomfort, the absence, the hurt, the grief (often only through the help of others), these hard experiences can soften my heart, expand my vision and open me to a new awareness of the deep truths of God. But not always!
SOMETIMES THE HARD THINGS IN LIFE BRING NOTHING BUT RUIN
I wish it was not so. but the good news (although it may not sound that way) is that in these times, every once in a while we get a little space, a little quiet, a little distance from the suffering. It’s a moment when we get to choose. Even when we are cornered by terrible pain, we get to choose. We get to choose whether our helplessness draws us toward or away from prayer. We get to choose whether our grief deepens our empathy or sours us into resentment. We get to choose whether to allow the difficulties we have suffered to break or expand us.And we get to remember God never guarantees a perfect painless life … that’s the next life if I am in Christ … He said I will be with you! Isaiah 41:10 — You must not fear, for I am with you; you must not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, indeed I will help you, indeed I will take hold of you with the right hand of my salvation.
And if we are listening, if we are open, we might find grace where we least expect it … if you are in a space like this now … my prayers go out to you today.
Many of these thoughts are from a book called “The Gift of Hard Things” by Mike Yaconelli
Todays featured image is by Brooke Shaden entitled Icarus
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