Most people, if not all, look for shortcuts from time to time. If there is a way to make things easier, to make things less complicated, we will generally try to find it. And, for the most part, there is nothing wrong with that. After all, some of the best inventions or step-saving ideas have come as a result of people working to speed things up, to make some things easier to do.
But there are some things which cannot be changed or sidestepped. Like life and what we go through. Part and parcel of life is hardship. No matter how smoothly I want life to be, there will be rough patches. I can’t skirt around them. I cant bury my head in the sand and pretend they don’t exist. I can’t hide from them.
The Apostle Paul wrote some interesting words to Timothy in 2 Tim. 2:3-6: “Endure suffering along with me, as a good solider of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.” He mentions soldiers, athletes, and farmers. Soldiers stay focused. Athletes stay committed to the rules. Farmers work hard. Neither of them can take a shortcut to reach their goal. Soldiers can’t dilly dally and not train to expect to win the battle. An athlete can’t short circuit his training, either by drugs or laziness. And a farmer can’t expect a harvest without putting in the proper field work.
Life is hard. Life is tough. There are no shortcuts to getting around that. And frankly, IMHO, life is appreciated a whole lot more-the reward is sweeter-when the proper attention is given to the process required for the long run.
Bill, I think you provide a valuable insight to our life on this Earth. Though I don’t think we are expected simply work harder to get through every circumstance, there will definitely be seasons where we will need to work hard. Though not a shortcut, there are times where the tools we use to accomplish the tasks at hand make a lot more sense. In my life, the most underutilized tool in my belt is prayer and I am working to change that. Sometimes working smarter not harder makes much more sense and I think prayer may help get me there.
I do hope my words were not taken as must work harder, especially as it applies to spiritual growth. But I’m with you on the underutilized tool, Ryan. Mine gets a bit rusty from time to time.
I didn’t take it that way at all… though, re-reading through my response, I can see how that may be inferred.
Thanks for the get back. I know you know me and I am against any type of “working” for salvation or to think we can better ourselves by pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps.
Going through tuff trials is no easy thing to do. During those times is when I do wish I had a shortcut. Thankfully God does always walk with us through everything. The key is, to make sure you are asking for God’s guidance and not trying to navigate the waters by yourself. I have been studying a lot lately on a successful pray life, learning to pray properly is different than what I think most people realize. Pray is the greatest tool we have to communicate with Our Father, Jesus opened that door for us on the Cross, so we need to utilize our pray life to have a more intimate and understanding of God in our life.
Lots of truth here Gail. we do need to make sure we are seeking Him and His guidance and NOT trying to do it all on our own. Thanks for the wise comment.
Sorry to be so late today, Bill, but I can’t use my regular computer email as we are pretty sure it is infected by a virus. Had to go to my bank today to make sure my accounts had not been compromised. I’ll have to wait until Danny is home so my hard drive can be completely cleaned. Please forgive me if I don’t respond to your blog for the rest of the week. Danny’s MRI will be tomorrow. Blessings and thanks for continuing prayers!
No problem Martha. I saw on Betty’s blog that he had a setback. I will certainly pray for him.