Throughout my life, I’ve come to learn that there are many different instances when the saying “easier said than done” is about the only way to describe something. For instance, it’s easier to say you want to lose weight than it is to actually commit to a diet and workout plan. Or to say you’re cutting off all ties and that you’re done going back to that toxic person in your life, which sometimes only lasts until you run into that person again, or they apologize for whatever wrong they did.
But most of all, I have found that sometimes it is “easier said than done” when it comes to having faith when things happen that we don’t understand. While I’ve had my own set of trials and experiences that I don’t understand the reasoning for, I am always reminded that my circumstances could always be worse. It’s easy to have a relationship with Christ, to claim that we trust Him wholeheartedly as our Lord and Savior, but the minute that our circumstances change, and we experience the unthinkable, such as a tragedy or the loss of a loved one, then it is much easier to say that we are trusting God and His plan, than it is to truly believe so.
The reality of the situation is that it is easier to trust God and believe in His will when the going is good- when we are happy, when our relationship and friendships are all at peace, when our job is satisfying, when there isn’t anything in our life that we aren’t content with. The minute that we are thrown a roadblock, an obstacle of any sort, our attitude towards Christ is the first to change. Instead of thanking Him for what He’s given us, we turn to doubt, to anger, and even to bitterness. But why aren’t we thanking Him for whatever the new obstacle or heartache is? Even though we can’t see it, God places those unimaginable circumstances, those tragedies, and those heartaches to teach us whatever the lesson is. He knows the areas where we need to grow the most, and He knows that we can’t grow when we are content and satisfied. Therefore, He has to make us uncomfortable. He has to break our heart sometimes, and that’s okay, because He will always put the pieces back together.
Another saying that I hear a lot is, “God gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers.” Honestly, I think that’s the furthest thing from true, and typing it just now made me slightly cringe. Before you try to burn me at the stake, let me explain why I hate this simple phrase so much.
While we all are dealt a different hand of cards, one person’s battles are no superior to another. We all handle things differently, we all have different experiences, and because of this, it is not fair to think that my or your battles are more or less than the next person’s. God doesn’t give His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers- He gives tough battles to everyone, but He gives them the strength to overcome whatever the battle is. Do you think that God only gives tough battles to strong believers and just forgets about the weak ones? The reality is that we are ALL weak without Him, and we will all face battles that test our faith- but He is always our strength.
We may think that we can do it all on our own without Christ, but trust me - it’s easier said than done.
