We Were Made for This

Life is hard. It was never meant to be easy. We were never guaranteed a safe passage from womb to tomb. We - in fact - were not made for insignificance. The fact we have had any “ease” at all is the miracle. The truth that our role as Christians is supposed to be hard is good and glorious truth. 

PERSPECTIVE
Did you ever notice how we do not inspire to be lazy people? We do not look at the foolish man who spends his day wasting time, and not aspiring to anything, “Wow, I want to be like him!” or the casual girl who throws her pearls before swine and think, “Oh I hope my daughter aspires to her someday.” 

No, we get goosebumps when we see acts of heroism. Our spirits leap when we hear endeavors of courage and how God came through. We jump to our feet when we hear testimony of miracles, answered prayers, and moments of conversion. We go to sleep at  night thinking of heroic things we might be able to accomplish. We train to win a marathon because it’s hard - but it’s an accomplishment. We work extra hard for a nice vacation because we know that hard work is - well, hard - but the reward will be worth it. 

We tell the story over and over of David and the stones and slingshot taking down Goliath. We do not teach our young ones: “Avoid every challenge in life so you never have to go against a Goliath.” Oh no, we read these stories and celebrate these stories because we WANT to be part of being big and courageous for God. And we want our children to understand that when you afce something big - with God you can conquer giants. 

I look at this past year in America and I have a mix of emotions. On one hand I want to give the Chinese yahoos a good talking to for how they released the virus on our shores and our people. I want to wring the necks of every leader that has allowed bad elections to progress for the past 40 years. I want to weep at the amount of corruption and how far we’ve gotten from the sweet walk with the Father as a nation. I want to scream at all citizens who have been callous and carefree for the past 60 years - convinced that “they didn’t need to do anything, or taking God out of school wasn’t worth fighting for.” Sigh. Welcome to Amy’s transparent thoughts but I figure it might be okay to share them. It’s highly likely you too have felt some of these emotions. 

And yet - when I read history and I hear about horrific seasons and how people came through: 

• When mothers of baby boys were grieving because they were being slaughtered in Jesus’ day for fear of Herod not wanting someone else to take his power 
• Or the settlers and their trek out west through covered wagon, on hard journeys, catching cholera and some having to be buried along the road 
• Or one of the Depressions our nation has experienced (yes, there was more than one) and yet how people came through and found a way to live through it
• Or the Christians in Rome who were pulled into the arena for sports and it was as normal as watching a tv show for men and women, boys and girls to come “watch the animals pull Christians apart” in the arena … 

I am reminded: 

• There has always been hard moments 
• There have always been trials and unfortunate moments of history … 
• And with God we can not only survive but THRIVE. 

It is - in fact - part of this life. 

But yet - I am not called to be a victim. I am called to rise above it and usher in the glory and joy of Jesus to those who are hurting around me. 

I’ve said more than once, I do not know how people do life, do this season, do politics, (do anything!!) without Jesus. But I stop in my tracks and I realize: there are so many who have been dealing with the past horror of a year without the Savior. 

A CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF US
So here is my challenge to us. It’s threefold, really: 

1. 1) Let’s make a list of all the things we have to give thanks for. Let’s make note of the little and big ways we are seeing GOD SHAKE THE MOUNTAINS and the victores that are surfacing. Start a list on your fridge, or start putting post it notes all over your bathroom mirror. Let’s REMIND OURSELVES that God is already coming through for us.  
2. Let’s pray for and be sensitive to the hungry souls around us. So many are READY for the good news of Jesus … Holy Spirit use us to usher them into the Kingdom
3. May we change our mindset from “victim” and “woe is me” and “when will normal return” to — God has given me an opportunity to stride into the battlefield and take out the enemy and WITH HIM I AM CAPABLE.

King David never would have had the story he could tell his grandkids about how he took out a giant … 
Esther never would have had the story of how she saved a whole people group … 
George Washington never would have been known for leading his men through Valley Forge … 
William Wilberforce never would have been credited with helping end slavery … 

… if they didn’t show up. 
...If they didn’t step into the arena. 
...If they didn’t step INTO the challenge. 
...If they didn’t EMBRACE the impossible moment. 

And really - thank You God that they said through their lives, “we are not quitting when it feels uncomfortable,” and, “we are okay to stand alone,” and “we are okay to walk the high road and do the outlandish thing for God” and “we will try again and again and again and again.” 

IT IS UP TO US
Hard things can be hard and miserable. 
Or Hard things can be hard and full of joy! It’s up to us. 

Oh Father, let the miracles begin again! ​