Friday, December 30, 2011

Difficult: Hard to deal with, manage, or overcome

This was a hard year. 

I know I say this every year, but so many things changed
Actually, 
who am I kidding.

EVERYTHING CHANGED.

But of course, that always happens. Every year.

I suppose that's a good thing, though, to look back on a year of your life gone and see how much you've learned, how much you've changed, how much you've grown.
And in spite of all that I see that's different and that's good, 

I realize I still have so much to learn. 
Of course. 

Which is also good.
Because I think it's truly a sign of ignorance and immaturity to think that one has learned everything there is to learn.

Truth be told, I'm very happy with the way God has arranged things in my life so far.
[insert contented sigh here]

Not to say that things have been easy. Quite the opposite, actually. Every day I realize more and more that life... 
is frickin' hard. 

Love is hard. Obedience is hard. Patience is hard. Humility is hard. Compromise is hard. Change is hard.
But all of these things, as uncomfortable or challenging or frustrating as they may seem at times...
Oh, they're so worth it. 

I'm learning to find joy in laying down my life for the Lord. And even though that's possibly (and most probably) the hardest thing I've ever had to learn to do, I'm learning it. And I'm loving it. And heaven knows I'm so far from perfect I can't even see it if I squint, but this year I've rested so much comfort in the fact that it doesn't matter. And God has a plan.



Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!