Move over helicopter parents who hover over their child’s every move. Get out of the way, snow-plow parents who remove any obstacle in their child’s path. A less menacing-sounding model has replaced you.
The other day, I read an article about “Sad Moms.” These parents have rid their houses of children’s toys and clothes made up of primary colors. They decorate their homes with beige on beige. One was even quoted as being offended by the green in the grass. It turns out that color overwhelms them in what they see as difficult times. Climate change, political division, or anything that offends them has driven them to dull their world.
For them, beige is the boss. Hard to teach your small children the colors when only one can be pointed out to them. Sad, you bet. And so off the mark. Life is hard, as the name of this devotional tells us. But God is good. Erasing the color of life because times are tough won’t change your view.
In Romans 12:12, we learn how to have joy no matter what life brings.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Tough times come. Trouble awaits. God tells us He will get us through when we turn to him. Praying reminds us that He is in control, not our circumstances. Waiting helps us develop character, shaping us and molding and strengthening us.
This brings to mind the “No Pain. No Gain” theory of working out. I started a new exercise program this year. A mutiny erupted in my muscles immediately. A not-so-very “stretchy band” and light weights break down muscles and, for the first time in a while, build them, I hope.
I started this program to strengthen my core and back muscles. I need to stand up straighter. Plus, I’m trying to prevent injury to my aging body. I never want to be that woman in the cheesy Life Alert commercial declaring, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”
Adversity does for us what exercise does for the body. It pulls and prods us, stretching our faith. In God’s eyes, it strengthens us so we can stand when something tougher comes our way. God reassures us in the Book Of James that it will be worth the work.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”(James 1:2-5)
God wastes nothing, Even the bad things He can use for good. We must work it out. We will see His beautiful, perfect plan when we pray, wait, and stay faithful. We develop perseverance and maturity when we turn to Him for strength through troubles. If we strip His world of color, turn our eyes from what seems too much, we will miss the masterpiece He is creating – a relationship with HIM.
IT'S A HARnDen LIFE... 