Walking out Faith when life hurts

Things around Popes Store Museum have been pretty quiet for the last few weeks. Not much work being done. It is hard.

• It is hard not having news to share.

• It is hard not seeing pristine new cabinets replace the gaping caverns of empty space in the kitchen.

• It is hard navigating a dark, long hallway because the electric is not completely rewired yet.

• It is hard knowing that I have become nose-blind to the musty smell of my clothes due to wet rotten floors beneath the closet.

• It is hard believing when I want to be seeing.

Yet a life of obedience is hard, too, isn't it?

Before you wonder if my contractor is AWOL, he is not.

But it is still hard.

Not getting what we expected, but continuing to believe, is hard in life.

• It is hard staying hopeful when your mother has entered Hospice care.

• it is hard staying financially focused when your budget feels like you are climbing a Vaseline-covered ladder.

• it is hard staying when you realize that your marriage of two now has an unwanted 3rd party.

• It is hard staying grateful when your prayer is, "heal me or give me grace to walk through this."

It is hard.

Over the years I have committed my life to God's purposes and His plan daily. Committing to do ANYTHING for His glory has been my prayer. Singing along with Gospel Artist Tasha Cobbs I have bellowed, "For Your Glory, I would do anything."

Anything?

Really Michelle? Would you do Anything?

Would I live in joy when my healing doesn't come, and do it For Your Glory?

Would I stay committed to my marriage when the flame looks like charred stumps, and do it For Your Glory?

Would I remain thankful when I am once again passed over for promotion, and do it For Your Glory?

Would I stand firm when I weary of my child pushing hard against my parenting, and do it for your Glory.

Would I trust Him when my child is ridiculed or rejected, and walk through it For Your Glory?

Would I shelter in Him when my addiction seeks to overwhelm me?

Can I live my life dependent upon You, and do it For Your Glory?

Tough questions when it is real life stuff.

It's harder to "do anything" when it's hard. But our culture does not need another church on the corner, another great vocalist, or another motivational speaker to fire us up. We needs moms and dads, neighbors and cousins, husbands and wives living one day at a time, saying, "Yes...I will do even that, For Your Glory."

But let's not pretend that it does not come without a struggle, without a price, or without effort.

It is hard.

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Then Jesus told all of them, "If anyone wants to come with me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross every day, and follow me continuously." Luke 9:23