Today's Devotional Thought
October 09, 2014 by Rachel Piferi
Life is Hard
It seems like it has been much too long since we wrote to you here at After the Miracle. In fact, for the last 6 to 9 months, I feel like we have started more posts like that than not like that. It has been a full year in ministry, in our families, and just in life. In fact, as I write to you today, I am writing with three words that I feel like I have really been living lately:
Life. Is. Hard.
Don't get me wrong. Life is also very good. Right now, I am eating lunch at a local restaurant on their outdoor patio, enjoying the sunshine and writing to all of you. I have just come off of a morning of Bible Study at our church where we had wonderful and transparent discussion in a room full of women I love dearly. Wendy & I are about to launch a new local ministry that the Lord has been stirring in us for years. Our families are strong and healthy.
So, life is very good right now.
But, it is also very hard.
In my house, my children are growing into teenagers {one already is} and they have friends and sports and homework and growing that has required more of our attention and prayers than it ever has on our parenting journey. I can remember the day that I thought potty training or picking up toys from the living room floor day after day was hard parenting work. And while in that season, it did feel hard, this season feels emotionally harder. As we navigate cell phones and boundaries and all the world is throwing at them, I find my mental and spiritual reserves taxed daily in my parenting.
We also have been fielding more questions from Isabella lately about her health. As she is growing in awareness and is hanging out more with her peers, I think she is learning how her health is different than the rest. And this has led to several moments with her recently where she has cried or asked questions about when she'll be "normal."
My husband and I also lead the youth group at our church. And our group is in a season of growth and growing excitement about serving and learning. We have the largest group we ever have. And it is wonderful. But with increased size and spiritual growth, comes such a responsibility to serve them well and faithfully.
I am sure my life is not too much different than yours. Your season of life may be different and your actual experiences and challenges may be different, but I bet you too have chronic and immediate demands that can leave you, every now and then, saying,
Life. Is. Hard.
Earlier today, I found myself uttering those words {I even posted it to Facebook} and as those words fell off my lips, the Lord laid the following on my heart:
But my grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).
And
I will give you more and more grace and peace as you grow (2 Peter1:2).
So yes, life is hard. Sometimes, it is a good hard. And sometimes, it is a bad hard. And, no matter what season we find ourselves in, there will be challenges. But through it all, the Lord gives us the grace we need for the hard we're in. And through that grace and peace, we learn more about the One who is walking with us through it all. And in an extension of his grace to us, we grow in endurance and character and strength through it all.
Jesus told us that in this world we will have trouble. Sometimes the trouble is real objective hardship and sometimes the trouble is just the normal "hard" of different seasons. But regardless of the trouble, he also promises us that this world that brings trouble, well...he has overcome it.
And girlfriends, that is some good news. And oh how that brings me such amazing hope and strength to endure whatever hardship I am in right now.
I pray you feel more and more grace and peace today as you walk through your own hard. And when you are in the middle of your hard, stop for a moment and imagine the day when we are in his presence in eternity.
Where there is no more hard.
Oh what a glorious day that will be.
November