Life Is Not Easy
Good Morning,
Most of us know the story of Joseph, the young man who was hated by his brothers and eventually sold into slavery. While Joseph tried to do the right thing in a very difficult situation, he was lied about and jailed. Years passed from the day that his brothers betrayed him, and we find that he became a lord of Egypt.
Joseph’s life was not easy!
While starting the church, Mrs. Goddard and I did everything together. We knocked on doors, ran youth activities, and set up for each church service, but then a baby came along and she needed much more time to be mom. That event changed everything, and honestly, it was difficult.
Biblical priorities tell us that marriage and the husband are more important than children, and managing the right priority is not easy.
In marriage, the wife needs understanding and patience from the husband, and that is difficult. Young men have little understanding of what a wife feels and needs – understanding and filling that need is difficult. A young husband and wife are inexperienced and will make poor choices with time, money, and child discipline. Dealing with the results of wrong choices is not easy.
After being married for nearly half a century, we find ourselves far from that young family and early marriage, but I can assure you that age, decades, and all that comes with it is not easy.
Daniel lost his home, he was taken away as a slave, and unknown hardships were his lot in life. It was difficult.
No man understand a woman, and few women understand a man; that is difficult on both of you. When we add the reality that some days we are simply carnal Christians and bitter people, it does not make it any easier.
In a world with so many difficult situations and circumstances, we must allow our children to face things that are not easy. Homework late into the night, sports training, and countless kinds of work need to be integrated into the lives of our children because LIFE IS NOT EASY and we need to train them to deal with it. A hovering, controlling mom is not a help in this training for hardship. God placed the mom in the home for a reason, but men think differently and children need the outlook of the dad.
Handicapped children, layoffs, and medical trouble can all be a part of the future of our children, and IT IS DIFFICULT.
Do you remember the story of the bread God asked Ezekiel to make and eat? That was not easy. Jail for Jeremiah was in the will of God, but it was very discouraging. Hosea's wife sold herself as a harlot on the streets where Hosea preached, obviously that was difficult.
The ministry is difficult, yet we need preachers. The mission field is not easy, yet we are commanded to go to the whole world with the Gospel.
Do not try to shield your children from the difficult, unfair, or uncomfortable situations - these are necessary. Beg God for wisdom about what to do and what not to do.
My daughter and her three little ones were at our house one day when their dad was working. The four-year-old was riding a little push bike and carrying two foot-long shish kebab skewers in his hand. She felt like that was probably less than safe, but she asked me what I thought. I agreed, but then I added, “but I’m a grandpa.” She said out loud. “What would Matt say?” I found myself thanking God for the right spirit in that young mother. She did choose to tell her son that he had to divide the activities; either play with the shish kebab sticks or ride the bike, but he could not do both. The important lesson to learn in this situation was that she understood that her motherly instinct might not be right, and she had to at least consider options and ask herself what her husband might think.
Life is not easy - train for it, and help your children prepare for it.
Pastor