It can be HARD to do what’s good for us. Anyone with me? Today I was feeling drowsy and tired, and getting on my mat to do some work and workout was the last thing I felt like doing. Getting on my mat was HARD today. But I’ll tell you something… I feel so much better now! I feel energized. I feel stronger. I feel awake and ready to go!
In the same way: How HARD is it to prep a healthy snack as opposed to reaching for some chips? How HARD is it to grocery shop, prep, and cook a meal as opposed to going through the Drive-thru? How HARD is it to get in a quick workout as opposed to sitting on the couch? How HARD is it to pull out your Bible for quiet time or meditation as opposed to scrolling through Facebook for the 5th time? How HARD is it to stand up for a stranger as opposed to keeping quiet and walking away? How HARD is it to set boundaries as opposed to “keeping the peace”?
How HARD is it to follow God’s call when we would rather stay in our comfort zone? How HARD is it to do what is right when doing nothing at all is so much easier?
This isn’t to say that there isn’t room for rest, snacking, quiet contemplation, Facebook, or fast food. This isn’t meant to guilt you into better habits or make you feel bad for getting Taco Bell last night. This is simply recognizing a hard-truth… the things that are best for us (and our communities) are often the hardest.
The things that are best often take intention, time, energy, & courage. The things that can distract us are often easy and don’t lead to growth.
Taking the easy way out is complacency. This doesn’t lead to growth, change, or improvement. This doesn’t lead to the best things for you. This doesn’t lead to loving your neighbor in the best way you can.
Scripture also addresses this in Proverbs:
For the simple are killed by their turning away,
Proverbs 1:32-33 ESV
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.
Does complacency or not doing the best thing impact your salvation? No! When we have faith in Christ, we dwell securely in Him. No matter what. But it DOES impact us as we LIVE OUT our faith because we LOVE the Lord. This verse shows us that both ACTIVE disobedience and PASSIVE complacency matter…. and they can both lead to destruction. Destruction in the eternal sense yes (as in, those who don’t have faith in Christ), but I’d argue that there is destruction in an earthly sense as well.
If we are complacent (not growing, not changing, not bettering ourselves and our communities), what negative consequences will follow? If we ONLY eat junk food and fast food because it’s easy, that complacency can slowly destroy our health. If we ONLY sit on the couch & watch Netflix, that complacency can slowly destroy our homes, our businesses, and our physical health. If we ONLY scroll through social media (instead of reading the Word), that can slowly erode our spiritual health.
The good news is:
- If you have faith in Christ, you are secure
- Regardless of your yesterday, each day is a new day
- When you face fear, you can be at ease because you trust in God
What is the next HARD thing you should do today?
