Life is Hard

One of my favorite movie quotes of all time is from the Princess Bride. Wesley (still disguised as the Dread Pirate Roberts) says, “Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.” I usually change pain to hard, but the assessment is the same. It’s such a true statement that it has stuck with me for years.

I think the one truth in life no one can really argue with is that everyone has problems. Some are basic. Where is my next meal coming from? Some are more complicated. I have every worldly possession my heart desires, but I’m in a loveless marriage because I spent too much time working to get all those worldly possessions. Christian’s are not immune to these worldly problems either. Though some people (not necessarily Christians) think we should be. Jesus was very clear that it would be hard to follow him. See Luke 14:25-33 and Matthew 10:16-39. He was not selling something. He was speaking the truth.

This is all set up for two observations.

First, a lot of my prayer life is about deliverance. Fix this situation for me Lord. Save me. Lift this burden. Is that what God really wants to do though? Is that the point of life? I believe God is forming us into the image of His son through our experience in this life. Is it really beneficial for our problems to be resolved from on high? That being said the point is to rely on God. There is a balance here that I don’t know that I’ve achieved.

Second, in church last weekend while preaching Keith said, “We should be encouraged because God is with us.” This phrase really stood out to me. God is with us. Right here living our lives with us. If you’ll notice there is nothing in there about making things easier on us. Just that it will be okay because He is with us.

Life is hard then you die. Death is but a door. Let us walk through and meet our Lord on the other side.