Life is hard.
Let me be more specific; life is hard if you want to live it. NOT living life is easy. Just grab the remote, game controller, magazine, drink, or whatever other escape device you prefer and… cease. Stop engaging. Stop trying. Just vegetate. You have no idea how attractive that sounds to me at times.
The big lesson I’ve learned over the years is that living, REALLY living, is difficult.
Want a great marriage? WORK for it! Read books, attend conferences, talk to each other.
Want to raise great kids? Put your back into it! Take parenting classes, read, spend time with your kids. For Pete’s sake your hobbies can wait!
Want to be in better shape? Complaining about being fat won’t get you there. Get up earlier and hit the gym. It’s a pain. It’s a struggle. It can be a total drag but it is so worth it!
Almost two years ago I started my own business. I can’t even tell you how many times I wanted to give up. It wasn’t unusual to go for weeks without work. IT WAS SO HARD! But you know what? It was totally worth it! If I would have taken the easy way, I would not be nearly as happy as I am today.
Choosing the difficult thing is not only immensely rewarding, but it also strengthens us.
As I move into the next big phase of my life (planting a church) I’m acutely aware that it’s going to be one of the most difficult challenges I’ve ever undertaken, but I also know it’s going to be worth it. Lives are going to be changed, eternities decided, and needs met. I’m confident that it will be worth it and, five years from now, I’ll be glad I decided to do the hard thing.
So what about you? What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Was it worth it?
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Yes. I started a non-profit organization for children’s ministry. I started going back to school this semester. I am actively pursuing Christ through studying scripture – I am blogging to keep that writing juice flowing. I am on purpose spending time with people around me. That’s the biggest one I’ve been trying to do lately. REALLY spending time and digging into people to show them the love of Christ – not just how fun I am to hang out with. It is so true that living has to be purposeful or you’re really not living.
Does your childrens ministry have a web site? I’d love to see what you’re doing!
My husband and I felt the Lord was really calling me to quit my job (which was the main source of our income) in order to stay home with my then 7 year old grandson to homeschool him. Arron was said to be ADHD and they had him on so many different meds and they were causing all sorts of side affects. what a blessing it has been to have him “drug-free” and able to learn in his own environment without distracting others and having the Bible infused into every part of his studies. He is now 14 and the Lord has blessed that act of obedience many times over.
We homeschool too and it’s one f the hardest things we’ve ever done, but totally worth it.
battling the doubts of whether or not to date my wife. after I got past my fear of the C word, I married her and it was the 2nd best decision in my life!
Starting our new ministry team was hard, having to go out of my comfort “bubble” was even harder, but totally worth it!!
It’ll get even harder, but hold on!
Ah, Lee, that’s a horrible message that we all need to hear/read. 🙂 Thanks for the post!
The best messages are the horrible ones 🙂