Wishing For the Easy LIfe!

I think you would agree, we would all prefer to live an easy life. That is, we’d prefer a life free of sickness and pain, sadness and grief, toil and testing. Sometimes we even say out loud, “Why does life have to be so hard?” Unfortunately, however, like it or not, life is hard. For sure it is filled with lots of joys, but even when things are going well, the difficulties of life have a way of sneaking onto the scene. 

For me, as many of you know, some of that difficulty came sneaking (or I might say, barreling) into my life this past year in the form of such terrible arthritis in my spine that eventually I needed a second spinal fusion. Just as I was retiring from pastoring and beginning a new season, working at a gym as a personal trainer, the pain increased, my mobility lessened, and the need for surgery became more and more evident. Within five months of retiring, I found myself in the hospital for a few days and then recovering at home, dealing with the surgical pain and the inability to do all the things I want and love to do. For at least a few weeks I was quite debilitated and feeling quite frustrated and defeated. 

Four months post-surgery, I my body is healing, back working as a trainer, and able to do so many of the things I missed doing beforehand, For that I am very grateful. Yet, I have asked, why does it have to be this way? Why does life have to be so hard? Yes, I have wished for the easy life. 

Well, the other day I read these words by Thomas A Kempis: “How much strength we have is best proven by how we handle adversity. Such occasions do not make us weak, but show our strength.” Ah…now that was, at least for me, a great word of instruction and encouragement! 

The Apostle James wrote, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3 – NIV) He then goes on to say, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (vs. 4) 

You see, it is the hard things in life that shape us and make us into the men and women God would have us to be. It is through the difficult paths that seem forced upon us that lead us into the greatest victories and give to us the greatest testimonies. It is the hard life, not the easy life, that builds our faith and teaches us what it truly means to trust God.  

So rather than wish for the easy life, let’s thank God for the times when life is a bit easier. At the same time, let’s be ready to learn and grow and be shaped by God when life becomes hard. After all, “such occasions do not make us weak, but show our strength”—or we might say, make us strong. 

Have a great day! 

- Pastor Tim Harris