Maybe It's Supposed to Be Hard

We want a whole, happy, calm life. We want to be healthy. In "crunchie" circles, people use essential oils, grow their own produce, and stop using plastics. In Christian circles, there is an idea, an ideology, gaining ground that presupposes a holistic, restful life is possible if one follows the spiritual disciplines of the desert fathers and mothers. Mysticism. Prayer, scripture, silence, solitude, sabbath, fasting, rest, etc. (If you're looking for a couple interesting reads on this topic you could see these books by Jefferson Bethke and John Mark Comer.)

I want a holistic, happy, balanced life. My kitchen contains wooden cutting boards and loose leaf tea. I begin all my mornings with homemade kombucha, prayer, quiet, and scripture. I do Pilates throughout the week and hold the Lord's Day as holy every Sunday. 

And I'm tired.

And I'm weary. 

And I wonder if that's just how it is in this sin-soaked world as we run to Heaven. 

After all, the Spirit tells us to "run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1b). Running is hard work, and the extra encouragement to do it "with endurance" certainly assumes it won't be easy. We are told not to "lose heart in doing good" (Galatians 6:9) because that's what we're prone to do. "We are not of those that shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul" (Hebrews 10:39). And we are assured that "in the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I [Jesus], have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

I just don't think there is a magic formula for doing all the right things and life will be full of peace and ease. On this side of eternity we fight against sin, against the world, our flesh, and the devil. On this side of eternity, loved ones die and friends desert us. Life is hard. 

However, God is good and He gives us wisdom and discernment so that we can live well in the time we're given. He commands us to love Him with our strength and gives us understanding that sleep, whole foods, exercise, and sunlight are good for our physical health. He commands us to love Him with all our hearts and then tells us to come to Him, even giving us the tools to do that--Scripture, prayer, worship, Lord's Day, fasting, etc. 

It is good for us memorize scripture and to ovoid eating processed foods, but it is a lie to do those things for the purpose of having a whole, happy life. They don't promise a whole, healthy life, and to be completely honest, we aren't here for a whole, happy life anyway. We are here on the Master's business. We don't do these things for us, we do them for Him. We are stewards, servants, children of God Most High, praying that His kingdom would come and His will would be done. 

The fruit of a righteous life is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls. Proverbs 11:30 NASB

Jesus said that in this world we will have trouble, and I think it's a lie to believe if we do a. b. and c. that all will be well. That's simply unscriptural. Being a sinful person in a sinful world is hard. 

So lets not be discouraged when life is hard. Let's not be despondent over the fact that some of us carry deep griefs in our hearts. It will not always be this way. Heaven is coming. 

In light of all the struggle and sorrow we live through, isn't it true that the corporate blessings convey amazing promises of encouragement when we pay attention? Yes, we live in a sinful world and yes, it is hard. But God is faithful. His promises are sure. And these words that He speaks over you are also a true reality. We are held securely in the loving, merciful hand of God. "Though troubles assail us and Satan oppose" He is faithful. 

The LORD bless you and keep you, the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 1 Thessalonians 5:28

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 24-25

What I'm Reading 

• I recently read through Janette Oke's Canadian West series and really enjoyed it. It is nothing like the When Calls the Heart TV series. If you're looking for something for a pre-teen girl, teenage girl, or something light and wholesome for yourself, I highly recommend them. 
• When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. This is our book club book this month. It's about a doctor so just be prepared for some descriptions of medical procedures. 
• Dale of the Mounted in Newfoundland by Joe Holliday. I found this at the thrift store for 50 cents. 
• Psalms in 30 Days. I'm not doing it in 30 days, I'm just working through it as I do my private worship in the morning, as the Psalms are a help to prayer. 
• Leviticus by Andrew Bonar. Using this for private study. I love it. 10/10 recommend.  

What I'm Enjoying 

• meal kits. For the month of November I signed up for meal kits that get sent to my place once a week. It's nice to eat something other than chicken fingers and salad. 
• getting into a bit of a routine. I find it takes several weeks into the school year to get into a good routine and I think I'm almost there. 
• candles and tea.
• my new panini press. It's a game changer, turning any sandwich from ordinary to gourmet. 

His [Andrew Bonar] sympathy with those in sorrow had been learned by passing through the same sad discipline. When Mrs. Bonar [his wife] was so unexpectedly taken away from him in October, 1864, he wrote to his brother Horatius: 'I think that the Lord who used to give me health to work is now saying, "will you seek to glorify Me by bearing and enduring?"' Andrew Bonar, Diary and Life. pg349