If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME! So glad you are here!
My daughter recently sent me a short video she had taken of my 2 year old granddaughter, caught in the midst of her being disciplined by her dad. Harper had made a mess with her bedtime snack. Her dad told her she had to clean it up. With an older brother and sister and a baby brother soon to be born, teaching her to help clean up after herself is a needed lesson.
My daughter walked in the room to hear Harper crying, “I want Mommy!” The vacuum cleaner was sitting in front of her. My son-in-law was calmly telling Harper that she could go get her mommy as soon as she finished cleaning up. Harper’s response then was, “It’s too hard!”
My daughter told me that’s her same sentiment to cleaning – she wants her Mommy and it’s too hard!
It was funny watching that short video. At the same time, so understandable. Sometimes it is very hard doing the things that are necessary to do. Whether it’s cleaning up messes, or dealing with the difficulties in life. Sometimes, life is just simply hard and it would be wonderful to escape from having to deal with it.
I really love the writings of the Apostle Paul. Verse after verse is full with spiritual truth. It’s hard to read more than just a couple verses without needing to stop and meditate on their richness. I believe his depth was due directly to his suffering. After all, as a grown man who knew the scriptures inside and out, he rejected Christ as the prophesied Messiah. Until he came face to face with Him on the road to Damascus. It took a personal encounter before his life-long educated understanding of the scriptures became a learned and lived life of wisdom.
He lists some of the things he endured in 2 Corinthians 11.
“Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—“ 2 Corinthians 11:25-27 NKJV
Talk about things being hard!
Paul goes on in the next chapter to say that he had seen visions and learned great truths. But of those things he wasn’t going to boast. He would rather boast in the faithfulness of the mighty strength of God that had gotten him through all those hard things he faced.
I have had some wonderful, mountain top experiences with God. I’ve had moments when I have studied His Word and felt the Holy Spirit teaching me wonderful truths. But I would have to say that most of my spiritual growth has been during the hard times. Times when I had to cry out to my Abba, asking for His help.
Are things hard right now for you? Our Heavenly Father knows all about it. And even if we feel like we are all alone, we are not. Keep trusting in Christ and just like Paul, we will be able to say:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 NKJV
Heavenly Father, things are just so hard sometimes. Sometimes I just want to cry out, “I want my Abba!” But thank you, Lord, that with Your help, I can handle whatever is in front of me. You know exactly what is going on and what is ahead. I can trust fully in You, knowing I’m never alone. Thank you, Father, for Your strength and for Your leading. I Love You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.