At Times Life Is Hard

At times life is hard. Gut-wrenching hard. Breath knocked out of you, hard. There are things that happen to each of us. Things we don’t like. Things we don’t want. Things we never asked for. These things leave us bone tired, weary from the troubles, ready to give in or give up. At those times we might silently ask our self, “How did I end up here?”.

If this is you right now, I get it.

In my own life, woven between the tender times and joyous moments are strands of rebellion and death. There was also widowhood hand in hand with single parenting. I had regret mixed with anger and pain. A time of job loss that threatened to take me under. Heartbroken over words that cut deep, and friendships lost. I have not lived my almost fifty years unscathed. There were times when my spirit felt crushed under the pressures of this heavy world.  No one really likes to talk about those feelings. Often times those feelings are pushed aside, shoved out of the way. But, they are real.

Jesus never said, “Follow me and life will be easy. Follow me and there will never be trouble. Follow me and you will no longer feel pain”. Actually, it was quite the opposite. He knew life would be hard for us, but He also spoke comforting words, real words. He reminded us to not lose heart. To look to Him. To look forward to what is ahead…..

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rests for your souls .…” Matthew 11:28-29 NIV

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV 

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all“.  2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV