Press on…even when it’s hard

I don’t know why it’s so difficult for me to sit down and blog. Well, I guess I do know why…at least the reason for today: my little brain has all these little bits and pieces running around in it and I can’t type fast enough, or get all the pieces together enough to make sense; and all those thoughts are spinning around in there and getting all jumbled up into one big mess. I type and delete. Try again. And delete.

Story of my life it seems.

I sit here and realize my shoulders are all tensed up, and since I’m accessing my tenseness I look down and tell my legs to relax too. Five minutes later they’re all back at it again.

Not fun.

But, my friend, God doesn’t always ask us to do something that is “fun” or that comes easy for us, does He?

(Don’t get me wrong, I do love to blog…I really do! I love to share things with you that God has used to help me and encourage me. And as little as I’ve actually blogged since I’ve started here, God sends me nudges so often that show me that it is what He wants me to do, and that He is using it for that very purpose…to give Him the glory!

It’s just not all that easy for me most of the time.)

But since last March, God has very specifically been dealing with me to “do the hard thing.” One thing particularly. And by His grace He has helped me do it pretty consistently. (yeah…that was over a year ago and we’re on to step 2 of “do the hard thing.” I know. I know. Not so fast, right?? *sigh*) I can never doubt the longsuffering of God!! At least I never should! He is oh so patient with me…oh, you too?

So today I’m going to “do the hard thing.” The next hard thing. I’m going to blog today because it’s what God wants me to do. Not because it’s easy. (I recently told someone the Lord has been dealing with me about blogging regularly –like, “go forward in the invitation, Mitzi, and get right with God and promise to obey Him and blog more,” kind of dealing with me- and they looked at me with a smile and said, “Wow! That sounds like it would be fun!” and I did have to ask myself what my problem was!)

But if it was so easy for me, I would do it all in my own strength and not “need” God’s help, right…and then what good would it do for God and what glory would it bring to Him?!

Yes, I’m talking to myself here. Perhaps you left a few paragraphs ago. And you know what? That’s ok! If this little post is typed out to help only one person…myself…then it’s done what it’s suppose to do. Because I’ve obeyed God and leaned into Him and did the next hard thing.

Peace, peace, wonderful peace.

Let me leave you with a tiny tidbit that I came on here to share with you in the first place. (yeah, I get distracted easy too! You know, all those bits and pieces flying around in my brain). It’s from a book by Isobel Kuhn called “In the Arena.”

“There is a less spectacular platform whereon God also manifests Himself. It is one of everyday struggle with every day’s small problems. Nothing breath-taking has happened. Yet at the end of the year, or after a long period has passed, as one thoughtfully reviews it, suddenly one sees it. ‘Look.’ we say. ‘Wasn’t it a miracle that with all that was against us, we were enabled to go steadily forward?’ It is forward pushing, despite the harassment of small trials that prick, sting, and weary one. And perhaps this is the platform which God uses most often in the average Christian’s life.

“…Small harassments; they come to everyone. What are we to do with them or in them? Seek a promise from the Lord. Nothing is too small but that He will respond to comfort or to guide… And again He had proved that in harassments was a good place to get to know him!”

Won’t you press on, my friend? Though it’s hard and maybe you feel all alone…do the next hard thing. Push forward! Move steadily forward! Don’t listen to the enemy trying to convince you its “too hard” and “no one understands.” Your Heavenly Father does and He wants to welcome you into heaven one day with a “well done, thou good and faithful servant.” [note: He didn’t say “successful.”] Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

I’m cheering you on!!