The other day I got some unexpected snail mail. I love getting cards in the mail. Don’t you? Inside the beautiful card was a book magnet. It was also beautiful. Then I read the inscription. “You can do hard things.”
My eyes widened, my heart took a few extra beats and I thought, “Oh, Lord…what now’? My thoughts ran from, I can do the hard things, to what if I don’t wanna do the hard things? What if I’m not willing to do the hard things? What if I’m not really ready for the hard things?
Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t take everything as a sign as things to come, but this felt like it was something I needed to my attention. And the thing about doing hard things, you can’t really avoid them.
If 2020 showed us anything, it showed us hard things. But in the midst of them, there was a lot of good. It would’ve been easy to stay focused on the bad. I mean, it was constantly shoved in our faces at every turn. Good to the ness!
But what stood out in my mind, was the good. The people who stepped up and helped out and shared the love despite all the yuck. I bet if you look back, you’ll see some of that too.
Back to my impending “hard things”.
First of all, I gotta give praise to God. He’s been so faithful to walk me through what was coming up. I can’t even begin to tell you all the ways. I can tell you, it’s been a good couple of weeks that step by step He led me through and prepared the way.
Let’s see that Deuteronomy 31:8 has to say about how God goes before us:
Not only does He go before us, but He lets us know He’s with us and then instructs us not to be afraid or discouraged.
He’s such a good Father. Even in the wake of things to come. Even if things don’t turn out the way I want or think I need.
Last night the first hard thing came and it carried over to this morning. It wasn’t anything I planned or really saw coming. But, I knew in my heart that after a couple of days of hearing “it’s time,” the time had come.
I’ve been a hot, tears spilling down my face mess. I hear my Savior whisper to come to Him and lay my heartache down.
When God asks you do lay something down, it’s for your good. It may not feel like it in the moment, but if you stick to what He says, I firmly believe you’ll bear the good fruit that will come from obeying.
Remaining where I am or going where He wants to take me is of course a choice. I don’t have to do the hard thing. I can stay put and see how my plans work out, but the closer I grow to Him, the more I know He has the very best plan for my life. Lord knows, I’ve chosen my plans over His countless times and I know how those plans turned out.
Those plans were typically for my self-seeking pleasure. The all about me plans. The what I deserve plans. The what about me plans. Oy vey. And finally, the me, myself and I-(dol) plans.
So, I did what I firmly believed God asked of me and with tears I let the thing He asked me to lay down, go. I spent time with Him in prayer sharing how I felt. He sat with me as I cried it out. He sits with me as I type it out, and use countless kleenex to clean up my tear-stained face.
Yes, I can do the hard things. Not because of me. Because of Him. You my friend, can do the hard things too. Not because of you. Because of Him. Because He loved us first and He loves us best.
I don’t know what hard thing you may be going through. But, stick close to God throughout it. He’s going to carry you through to the other side. Whatever that looks like, put your trust in Him. After all, He is the one who controls the winds and the waves.
I’ll leave you with this promise:
Have an amazing day, friends. Be bold! Be courageous and set your sights on things above.
Blessed to be Broken 
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