Someone forgot to tell me.

That even when things are good, even when there’s so much to be grateful for, life gets hard.

When Life gets Hard | perfectly imperfect

 

It’s messy.  It’s overwhelming, unforgiving even.  Days float along and if we’re lucky, we see life for what it really is.  It’s a gift.

But it still gets hard.

When Life gets Hard | perfectly imperfect

The lists get longer and the days shorter and the children are growing so fast we best not blink, and there’s food to work for, and there’s worry.  Even when we rest in Grace, there’s worry.  Sometimes I believe the Christian community works so hard not to feel this life, when really, trusting God has nothing to do with not feeling and everything to do with feeling it all alongside Him.

So it’s been a weird time for me.  There’s been mountains of lists and work and homeschooling and some worry and life.

There’s been selfishness and frustration and foot stomping of sorts.  There is weariness and priority-weighing.  Life got a little hard.

And by saying it aloud, just once even, the burden begins to lift.

When Life gets Hard | perfectly imperfect

The veil lifts just a bit and I see Glory, and while I can’t feel it quite yet, I know it’s there.  

I feel brokenness, and fatigue and the questions of what’s next lurk around in the corners of my mind–but there is no fear of what’s to come.

Christ doesn’t promise me I won’t feel tired or broken or angry or worn slam out.  He promises me He can help me carry the weight of it all.  He promises to be beside me, lifting me back to my aching feet.

I feel the weight of life, as do most of us, I’d dare say.

When Life gets Hard | perfectly imperfect

But I see Joy, and Grace and Peace, and I know it’s there.

And that soon, I’ll feel it all the way down to my toes.

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“Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don’t squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help. Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don’t put it off; don’t frustrate God’s work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we’re doing. Our work as God’s servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.”

–2 Corinthians 6:1-10, the message