WHEN WE MAKE IT HARD
by Beka Williamson
“I’m not telling you to go climb Mount Everest. I’m telling you to keep your hands to yourself and be quiet in the hallway. Why is this difficult for you?”
This comes out of my mouth on THOSE days.
Fellow teachers know exactly what I’m referring to - when your schedule has been disrupted multiple times, when students have pushed EVERY button, when a parent (who you’ve not heard from all year) stops in unannounced to question why their child isn’t allowed to go on the end of the year field trip. I guess the notes in the agenda, the voicemails, and the 7 write ups weren’t clear enough. *Sigh* Any who…Back to Mount Everest. On those days, the exasperation laced with sarcasm tumbles out before another prayer for patience can be uttered.
This comes out of my mouth on THOSE days.
Fellow teachers know exactly what I’m referring to - when your schedule has been disrupted multiple times, when students have pushed EVERY button, when a parent (who you’ve not heard from all year) stops in unannounced to question why their child isn’t allowed to go on the end of the year field trip. I guess the notes in the agenda, the voicemails, and the 7 write ups weren’t clear enough. *Sigh* Any who…Back to Mount Everest. On those days, the exasperation laced with sarcasm tumbles out before another prayer for patience can be uttered.
“Why is this difficult for you?” It’s a valid question. Why can’t you solve this calculus problem is not a valid question for my first graders. They don’t have the skills needed to do calculus, but they do have the ability to keep their hands to themselves. It boils down to a matter of choice.
Fast forward to around 9pm that same day. I’m mindlessly scrolling through Facebook when a post reaches through the screen of my phone and punches me right in the gut. Sounds like it’s time for a new phone, right? Seriously though, this is what it said…in a vaguely familiar daytime TV show host’s voice…”You said that you didn’t have enough time to read your Bible today, but your Netflix browser determined that was a lie.”
Uuuuuum, excuse me??? I’m trying to relax here. I use Facebook to decompress via funny animal videos, soldiers reuniting with loved ones, and sports highlights…not to be convicted of putting earthy pleasures before God. For your information, Facebook, I finished a Netflix series YESTERDAY, and I HAD read my Bible that morning. I read my devotion and hurried through a chapter of Psalms before I proceeded to spend 30 minutes applying make-up while needlessly taking mini breaks to check my email and Facebook and then another 15 minutes on my hair…
1 Samuel 16:7
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
Oooohhh, dear. That is a problem. A big problem. Let me describe my morning again very slowly so that you can pick up what I’m laying down. I….spent….5….minutes…..on….my….heart….and…..45….minutes….on…..my…..outward….
appearance. Note to self. God does not care if I use primer or contour my cheekbones. He doesn’t see the root lifter or the shine inducing hair spray. Now, none of that is sinful in and of itself. What WAS sinful was the human that used these tools to put her looks before her Lord. But here is why I had felt like I’d been punched. I was foolish enough to walk out of my house that morning (and let’s be honest, many mornings before that) and into a sinful world, where there is an enemy walking around seeking to destroy my family and myself, and the only thing I equipped myself with was basically a piece of the handle to a sword….not even an entire sword! And it was entirely. my. choice. How could I be so careless?
I imagine there are many times when God is shaking His head saying, “Why is this difficult for you? I’m not asking you to go die on a cross for your sins. I’ve already done that. I’ve done the hard part. I made a way for you to have fellowship with me. I have made and KEPT promises of peace, love, forgiveness, and knowledge. I’ve created a path for you to travel, a purpose for your life, an eternal home with me, and all I’m telling you to do is to put me first. Seek me first. Delight yourself in me. WHY IS THIS DIFFICULT FOR YOU?”
It’s actually not, Lord. I’m just making the wrong choices. I’m allowing my eyes to be on set on temporal things instead of eternity. Since the honesty is flowing let me add that many days I’m guilty of creating storm clouds in my life and then complaining when it rains. There are so many aspects of life that are just naturally hard….death, cancer, friends betraying you, cheating spouses… things you have no control over.
Why do we create more hard times by choosing to not do the easy?
God has given us a free will. We choose how we spend every minute, of every hour, of every day. Our relationship with God is a personal one. It’s up to us to maintain that fellowship by spending time daily in His Word and in prayer. If the relationship grows cold or you feel God is distant, examine how much time you are devoting to quiet time, prayer, praise and worship. If your current circumstances are swallowing you whole, cling to the promises and claim the armour He has given.
Ephesians 6:11-18
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
Read Isaiah 44:9-20.
Make the choice to go read these verses now or during your next quiet time with the Lord.
The hard part has already been done… purchased and offered to you as a free gift. When compared to what our Heavenly Father has already done and continues to do, it really is an easy choice to put Him first.
P.S. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
No amount of contour can make you look as good as He can!
Fast forward to around 9pm that same day. I’m mindlessly scrolling through Facebook when a post reaches through the screen of my phone and punches me right in the gut. Sounds like it’s time for a new phone, right? Seriously though, this is what it said…in a vaguely familiar daytime TV show host’s voice…”You said that you didn’t have enough time to read your Bible today, but your Netflix browser determined that was a lie.”
Uuuuuum, excuse me??? I’m trying to relax here. I use Facebook to decompress via funny animal videos, soldiers reuniting with loved ones, and sports highlights…not to be convicted of putting earthy pleasures before God. For your information, Facebook, I finished a Netflix series YESTERDAY, and I HAD read my Bible that morning. I read my devotion and hurried through a chapter of Psalms before I proceeded to spend 30 minutes applying make-up while needlessly taking mini breaks to check my email and Facebook and then another 15 minutes on my hair…
1 Samuel 16:7
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
Oooohhh, dear. That is a problem. A big problem. Let me describe my morning again very slowly so that you can pick up what I’m laying down. I….spent….5….minutes…..on….my….heart….and…..45….minutes….on…..my…..outward….
appearance. Note to self. God does not care if I use primer or contour my cheekbones. He doesn’t see the root lifter or the shine inducing hair spray. Now, none of that is sinful in and of itself. What WAS sinful was the human that used these tools to put her looks before her Lord. But here is why I had felt like I’d been punched. I was foolish enough to walk out of my house that morning (and let’s be honest, many mornings before that) and into a sinful world, where there is an enemy walking around seeking to destroy my family and myself, and the only thing I equipped myself with was basically a piece of the handle to a sword….not even an entire sword! And it was entirely. my. choice. How could I be so careless?
I imagine there are many times when God is shaking His head saying, “Why is this difficult for you? I’m not asking you to go die on a cross for your sins. I’ve already done that. I’ve done the hard part. I made a way for you to have fellowship with me. I have made and KEPT promises of peace, love, forgiveness, and knowledge. I’ve created a path for you to travel, a purpose for your life, an eternal home with me, and all I’m telling you to do is to put me first. Seek me first. Delight yourself in me. WHY IS THIS DIFFICULT FOR YOU?”
It’s actually not, Lord. I’m just making the wrong choices. I’m allowing my eyes to be on set on temporal things instead of eternity. Since the honesty is flowing let me add that many days I’m guilty of creating storm clouds in my life and then complaining when it rains. There are so many aspects of life that are just naturally hard….death, cancer, friends betraying you, cheating spouses… things you have no control over.
Why do we create more hard times by choosing to not do the easy?
God has given us a free will. We choose how we spend every minute, of every hour, of every day. Our relationship with God is a personal one. It’s up to us to maintain that fellowship by spending time daily in His Word and in prayer. If the relationship grows cold or you feel God is distant, examine how much time you are devoting to quiet time, prayer, praise and worship. If your current circumstances are swallowing you whole, cling to the promises and claim the armour He has given.
Ephesians 6:11-18
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
Read Isaiah 44:9-20.
Make the choice to go read these verses now or during your next quiet time with the Lord.
The hard part has already been done… purchased and offered to you as a free gift. When compared to what our Heavenly Father has already done and continues to do, it really is an easy choice to put Him first.
P.S. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
No amount of contour can make you look as good as He can!