This is one of the most banal expressions you'll ever hear or ever use. I am almost certain that it has escaped from the lips of every single individual who has 'been around'. It may have been said not from direct inflence of the difficult situation we go through but just as a slang because these days, it's somewhat the norm. When two men come together, one says "guy, how far?", the other responds with a sigh, a brief restless shuffle of feet, and an adjoining "oh boy!, its not easy". I guess in the real sense of it, no one reall finds anything easy! What may seem to you as easy is to another, insurmountable.
However, what is of grave concern to me is not how often we say it or who hasn't - what concerns me is how true it is!
Too many times, when life comes at you trying to drown you out like a nasty flood, wanting to quench your fire, there's 2 adages that resound in your mind -
"Nothing good comes easy"
"What you don't struggle for, isn't worth much"
These are not false - Everything that means something has some level of difficulty in the process of achieving it; some are even a lot harder than others. Think of all the things you want and then think of how they seem so far out of reach. Think of the things in your life that matter and think of the 'deep' you had to cross to get it. There's something funny about this concept; if you had not known the value of a thing and then you just went right ahead to try and obtain it, after you have been successful, you unconsciously put it high up on a pedestal when you look back and weigh the enormous tasks it required. You cannot separate one from the other - If you really want it then it's worth the fight, if it's something really special then you'll nedd some serious mind-making up to do!
I woke up this morning hurting like numerous other individuals have; who know how a down-time feels - a hurt that cut right down into my heart from the huge losses of a business. All my emotions were raging. I wanted to cry, to be strong, to lash out, compose myself, scream, disappear.. . You name it! I felt everything all at once! And then they started turning into anger, which in turn boiled over and brimmed - overwhelming me. I tried to pray but it was crazy hard, i tried to divert my attention, to focus on anything else but it was next to impossible.
Harsh or untrue as this may sound, everyone has had or will have such a time as this and NO, it does not have to be financial. It is a period when things are not just going as you planned or you would want.
You see a man and his wife; you notice how happy they are together - how they hold hands, whisper in each others ears, giggle, how they seem so in-sync and you want that.
You see folks name appear on Forbes list and hear that they built up enterprises from scratch, you see how they live, they give, they buy this and buy that, they splurge and you want that.
You see a man noticed, applauded ad awarded for excellent works/discovery in his field, his photo splashed all over the internet, the papers.. . the whole nine yards! And you want that.
You hear great men narrate episodes of times when they sat and discussed with God, how they heard Him make covenants with them directly, testimonies of how they worked miracles by His power. You are inspired and you want that.
Nothing is wrong with wanting these. Something is wrong with thinking or expecting that they are easy to accomplish - that they drop into your lap like ripe cherries. NO!
So you know, even Jesus, our model human figure, was tempted and pushed to the very edge of 'unease' - the son of the most high God mocked, beaten, spit-on and crucified!
All this, He bore because He knew these three things (what we should also know);
Whatever tough situation you are in, is something that you CAN DEFINITELY overcome -
1COR 10:13 "For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not [a]adjusted and [b]adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to [c]a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently."
PSALM 103:14 "For He knows our frailties.. ."
When you walk through fire, you emerge perfect on the other side; that as long and overhwelming the hard times are, there's joy at the end of it -
ISAIAH 43:2-3 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you. (3) For I am the Lord your God.. ."
That God sees all, knows all and is our ever-present help! -
PSALM 9:9 "The Lord also will be a refuge and a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble (high cost, destitution, and desperation)".
PSALM 32:15 "My times are in Your hands.. ."
PSALM 62:8 "Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!"
When you venture into anything and fail, the natural human reaction is for you to give up or for the much stronger individuals 'play safe' but remember that if there hadn't first been a bottom then there is no top. Remember that you can ALWAYS start again. Remember that when you fail and decide to rise up, there's someone you can encourage. Remember that all life's experiences are epic and they are all a composite part of our journey. Most of life's inspirational stories show this.
Abraham Lincoln - one of the most reknowned failures in history who became president of the U. S
Ben Carson - a dummy that turned into the most brilliant neuro-surgeon recorded.
Jesus Christ - born into nothing but elevated through dilligence, hardwork, perserverance and humility to the accomplishment many live for; a seat at the right hand of God Almighty.
"There is difficulty in all human journeys but there is no ability in just being a journeyer." - Nelson Mandela.
"Too many times you prepare and prepare and then one day, your preparation seems futile, nothing is working and the other guy has got your number cold. Something that we dont know is that rock-bottom is an interesting place. Make up your mind to move in and spend sometime there. It's actually not a bad place - It's a place where you get to ask the most important questions in your life. When we fail and go right back to the top, it's not an accomplishment, it is the reflection of an accomplishment. A symptom of smarter choices.. of strength." - Andre Agassi.
