Difficulty - A Reality of Life - a podcast by David K Payne

“Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.”

Job 46:1

 Peck begins his book “The Road Less Traveled” with the statement “Life is difficult.” Many won’t read any further in this blog as this is not what we want to hear. But for those of you continuing to read, I’ll let you in on a little secret; pretending life isn’t difficult, avoiding and ignoring difficulties doesn’t make it any less so. If we are ever going to live authentic lives, we must come to the reality that wishing our problems away won’t solve them but facing them and looking for a solution will.

The truth is life will be filled with difficulty and pain, but life doesn’t have to be difficult and painful. In facing the reality that all of life is a continual process of solving challenges and overcoming obstacles, you will begin to experience life on a level that will bring you great inner peace regardless of your present circumstances and situation.

Those who try to avoid trouble, become consumed with trouble and live their lives complaining about their trouble are the ones who have no peace and no real joy in their lives.  Considering the quote below you can see how many people struggle their entire lives to lament their place in life, and in doing so create a life that is unbearable and filled with turmoil.

 Neurosis is always a substitute for legitimate suffering.

- Carl Jung

 While those who face trouble head-on find a quality in their lives that is too hard to put into words. That inner satisfaction of knowing, that stress is a reality of life that can be navigated and overcome one problem at a time.

I remember a time a few years back when I was going through chemo and even though my body was tired from the medicine, and my mind was alert and sharp as I continued to work and go to school. I remember one day specifically in the winter, walking between classes and thinking, life can never be better than this right now. It wasn’t because I had no trouble because there was a lot of that. I was having issues with several close relationships at that time, I was struggling against sin in my life and find I was in challenging classes. But because I was just facing each day, navigating each obstacle and seizing on every bit of relief from my pains and struggles, there was an inner feeling that I have only experienced a few times in my life.

If you are ever going to have that authentic life, you must stop listening to the lies of others who are quick to tell you what you are doing wrong to be in your difficult circumstances and accept that what is, is and begin looking for the answer and the next steps. Learn to allow yourself to feel the pain, embrace the sorrow and face even your most tragic mistakes. One writer said weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalms 30:5). That joy is the satisfaction of knowing that rather than running from trouble and hoping it will go away, there is much life to be lived during your pain.

 Just BE

David

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