The Easy Way

A number of things over the past few months have left me thinking about who I want to be. I can perform hard work but I have become increasingly conscious about choosing the path of least resistance. Generally I'd say I'm responsible and get my Must Haves done. I sometimes use that to allow myself some slack. Well, maybe a lot of slack. I tell myself I'm just pacing myself. Sometimes a snail's pace, but still getting things done so what's the big deal? Here's the big deal:  I notice the temptation to take the easy way is often misleading. There is no Easy Way. It's a lie. Some ways only appear easy but in the long run, not so easy. Now I like to promote Working Smarter, Not Harder but that's not what I'm referring to. I'm talking about avoidance and/or denial and losing balance. For example, when I lose balance between work and relaxation I become admittedly more lazy. Laziness for me means that I leave things go until it becomes guilt-producing. That in turn often results in me being increasingly intolerant and cranky. Same for the balance between healthy boundaries and apathy, surrender and complacency, admiration and jealousy, splurging and gluttony, etc...you get the picture. It's a slippery slope. It doesn't take long for me to get caught up in a spiral of negativity. Taking what seems like the Easy Way results in quick, short-lived rewards that don't hold up and leave me feeling worse off in the long run. Here's how God puts it, "but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (James 1: 16-17, NIV) My efforts toward healthy living habits, my relationships and my faith life can all fall prey to the lie that it's too hard and that's when I start looking for the Easy Way. When I feel tired of trying I tell myself  I need a break. "Needing a break" usually translates into "Going back to old, familiar ways". Doesn't matter if they work for my benefit or not; just that they are familiar and seem easier. Don't misunderstand. Sometimes I do need a break in the form of rest, respite or a Time Out. We all need refreshment every now and then. Life can be hard. Anyone who's ever struggled with changing habits, loved someone, or been tested in their faith knows it can be hard. Really hard. I can't help but think of Eve. Poor Eve. She had the best of the best opportunity for success in every way yet she doubted it was enough. Eve was tempted by taking what seemed like the Easy Way. She was coerced into considering she could have a quick path to being like God. Once the thought took hold she followed through with disobeying God's directive and opened the door to the consequences for going against God's rules. I remember once when our son was caught and confronted with some act of disobedience. He was young--maybe four or five years old. I don't even remember what he had done but I do remember he was stricken with immediate and great remorse. He cried and lamented behind his closed bedroom door berating and questioning his poor choice. In a final exasperated expression of his agony he cried out, "Why?! Why?! did Eve have to eat that apple?!!". In his young age he could see the connection between that first act of defiance against God and, consequently, the trouble in which it left us all. I, personally, am glad it was Eve and not me who was in the position of committing the Original Sin. I have no doubt that I would have been unable to hold out. Could any of us? How often does it seem easier to give in to what offends God---not just what we DO but also what we THINK!? Yikes. I challenge you to finish out the hour, the day or the week without breaking a single one of God's commandments.  If you don't know God's Big Ten then I encourage you to look them up. You can follow this link to a few selected translations of the Ten Commandments as they're given in the Bible: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A1-17+&version=NIV;NLT;MSG

Not so easy, huh?

I know this can seem impossible to remedy. How in the world can anyone be expected to do it all without ever messing up? And who doesn't get tired and sometimes just lose steam? Even knowing what is the better way is no defense against slipping up because I might have a moment of weakness. I know I am more tempted to abandon my efforts when I feel like I just can't succeed. Obstacles might be real or perceived but for whatever the reason sometimes I just feel beat so why continue the battle? I'll tell you why. Because giving up the good fight can seem like it's easy. But it's not. Giving up and surrendering to despair is not easy. No amount of hard work, self sacrifice or humble surrender is as hard as feeling hopeless. God gave a way for us to be sure in our hope. He made staying the course easier---maybe not easy, but so much easier than without Him-- "Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:12, The Message).  Jesus did all those things perfectly that I could never do and then gave me the credit. He did that for you, too. And for every human being ever born or to be born. And God is merciful so our offenses are forgiven. That means although there could be earthly consequences for the choices we make we are not held responsible to pay for our sins in eternity. Sound too good to be true? It is amazing. Yet not too much for the God of All Creation to accomplish.

No way I'm able to always give 100%.  My efforts are inconsistent. Thank God it's not about me and what I can or can't, do or don't do. I know I can count on God's Word to lead me to the Best Case Scenario and God will help me in every way to do so. Maybe not easy but certainly worth it!

"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For,

“In just a little while,
    he who is coming will come
    and will not delay.”

~Hebrews 10:35-37