In difficult times....Galatians 6:9

The last three columns I have wrote about life in difficult times. I could guess and say that most folks don’t want to talk about difficult times. We had all rather focus on positive things, happy times, and not the trying moments of life. Difficult times get the “bad rap” and the assumption is that nothing good can come from difficult events, or difficult situations. Most people accept as fact that peer pressure is bad. I don’t believe that to be true but nevertheless many would agree with that statement that peer pressure is bad without ever considering that peer pressure can be positive too.
For example, inviting someone to church is pressure and calling to ask someone to join you in attending a women’s conference or a men’s meeting is peer pressure, but its positive pressure. We think of peer pressure as negative and most examples would be asking someone to drink alcoholic beverages, taking drugs or jus staying out a “partying” all night long. It is generally accepted as fact that if you are out late at night it cannot be good. You are up to mischief, or simply said, “no good”. While this could be true, the opposite could also be true, but this is not the considered possibility.
Changing our thoughts and positions is not easy, but giving way to possibilities is important and being willing to look at things in new views is also a key to being able to press forward through difficult times. The scripture says that “all things are possible through Jesus Christ”, and I believe acceptance of that position give us a chance to change things. I’ve mentioned change and that’s a bad word in most churches not to mention the other bad language, looking at things differently. A famous quote from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is: “If you do what you’ve always done, you will get what you’ve always gotten”. When it comes to truth in statements, I don’t know how you can spread more truth or honestly in a single statement. Yes, we want things to change, but we are not willing to do anything to help that change happen. We all want to see the best occur in our lives, but we don’t believe this can happen unless it happens the way we want things to happen. Talk about being narrow minded, hard to be more set in a negative way then this huh?
Writing this column, addressing this issue of difficult times is not easy. I feel qualified to address this subject matter because of the experiences I have in life. I believe I make life look because I smile and I am not someone that generally complains. I must share that life is good because I have hope and faith, and this causes me to be able to smile and not complain. Have I experienced difficult times, absolutely. Have I had crushing moments and situations, yes totally. Do I believe I have always been treated fairly? No, and forgiving is not the easiest Christian trait to practice. I can say that forgiving will set you free and that freedom allows you to stand back up after being knocked down.
Difficult times will eventually make it to your door steps. Difficult times will arrive via the mail or through a phone call. Prepare today for challenging moments that will stretch and pull your emotions, and beliefs. When you wonder what the best answer will be I can make a suggestion that has proven true for me. In difficult times Galatians 6:9 works for me. “Don’t grow weary in doing good, for in due season you will reap if you faint not”.

Until then