Dying is Easy, Living is Hard

If you are like me, you spend a good deal of your time wondering why life is so hard. Why does it always seem like there are so many problems? Why does my car always seem to break down at the exact point that I can least afford it? Why are relationships so hard? Why do others hurt me so often? Why doesn't the universe bend to my will?!?

It gets so bad sometimes that I just want to give up - throw in the towel and become a beachcomber somewhere. (Of course that would collide explosively with my desire to have regular showers, but oh well.) I was at that point the other day when I heard the quote: "Dying is easy, living is hard." For some reason, that struck me as very profound. We spend so much of our lives trying to make things easier, but the simple fact is: living is hard. I don't know why we expect it to be different - the Bible tells us that in this world we will have troubles. Yet we think we must be doing something wrong if our lives aren't the ease-filled grace that we expect.

Living is hard. And living in the calling and faith that God intends for you is impossible. Yes, impossible. Thankfully, God does the impossible (Matt. 19: 26). So chin up. Life is hard. You will run into troubles, but live like you mean it. Bite down and suck the marrow out of life. Do something radical. Don't give up. Follow God's path with every fiber and strain of your muscle. It's worth it.