So Joseph’s master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail. 21 But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, Gen 39:20-21
How often do you meet people who came to Christ looking for the easier life? And how often do you have those same thoughts,
”Why is life so hard? As a Christian I thought it would be different”?
This thinking leads us to approach decisions with the question, “Which is easier”? And this is the wrong question.
The truth is that life is hard. Paul said “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of heaven.” Acts 14:22. Would that mean that seeking the path of least resistance is like looking for the road to hell?
Real peace and happiness come when we cease looking for easier and start focusing on companionship. The question to ask is:
”If I make this decision, who will be with me?”
Do you see the difference? It is whether you will be alone or accompanied. Easy Street is a walk all alone. In fact, the state of “alone” can only be achieved through sin. Which do you really want:
the worst with Jesus or the “best” without Him.
Remember this week that only the walk of obedience and willingness to know the “fellowship of suffering” will bring the assurance that “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil…”
Do you remember the next five words from Psalms 23?
If I make this decision who will be with me? Wow, that one made me stop and think. I thought, how many things do I not include God in on throughout my day? How am I saying, that’s ok God, Iv’e got this one. I guess I do that because it is easier. I believe with God all things are possible, and that He is the author and finisher of our faith, and that He is our sustainer and helper, and very present help in trouble. I want to be better about walking that belief out every day with Jesus. Thanks for making me think today.
Do we ask which is easier or which is safer?
I find myself asking which decision is safe, after all I have a wife 3 kids and 2 in-laws for which we are responsible. Called to ministry, is it safe? God is with me. Called to love that person, is it safe? God is with me. Called to live vulnerably, definitely not safe! God is with me.
God be with me.
for you are with me
Remembering that he is with me always gives me peace, keeps me up when I am down and guides me.
for Thou art with me…This is a great point – the hard life with Jesus as our companion far, FAR outweighs the “best” life without Him…
This is a great post…we talked about it Wed morning. Could the current economic crisis facing America be blamed on too much “easy living” & not enough personal sacrifice…??
It’s hard because you are supposed to pray for those you would like to slap the crap out of.