Value of Hardship

It was a truly tragic story.  The wife had developed Alzheimers.  The husband in grief and despair decided their lives were over and took matters into his own hands.  Children had to plan a double funeral.  Lives ripped apart, forever. 

Obviously I feel what he did was wrong but, I am not here to judge him. 

I am here to judge a society that tells us any hardship is evil.  Baby Boomers were given so much that they have developed the mentality hardship is failure.  They equate successful lives as ones free of hardship.  They resist hardship and fight it with the tenacity of a dying bulldog, making it so much worse.  Certainly I am not advocating reveling or accepting hardship.  I am, however, suggesting understanding and realizing it is a part of life will give you the necessary tools to overcome it. 

I wonder what the husband missed during his hardship - holding his wife's hand one last time, brushing her hair, stolen kisses through moments of clarity?  What did his children loose - grieving and saying goodbye to their mother, with their father's comfort and help?  More years with their father.

Did God give his wife Alzheimer's?  No, most definitely not!  God is not the author or giver of sickness.  When satan launched his assault against mankind God sacrificed His most beloved son to give us health and healing.  Why didn't this woman achieve healing?  I don't know.  Faith works by love and Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God and Be it unto you according to your faith ... to name a few.

The point is, God didn't give it.  In this situation God would have been with them, all.  Out of this situation God could have brought comfort and healing.

Hardship is not failure. 
Hardship is not the end. 
Often, hardship is the beginning. 

I love the scene in "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe: Prince Caspian" where they look around and say, "It wasn't like we thought but, it was ok." 

I haven't met anyone yet who didn't have a plan or idea of what their life was going to be like, when they were  younger.  I have also never met anyone who had it completely come true.  Life is rarely what we thought.  I can not imagine anyone successfully navigating it without Jesus. 

He warns and comforts us, in His Word, John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Frankly, it's completely unrealistic to expect a life free of hardships.  God is perfect.  We are not.  We are going to make mistakes, they will often lead to consequences and hardship's.  With God's help, we will learn.  The Word of God, through the Apostle James puts it like this ... James 1:2-4 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Hardship creates, something, always.  What it creates is up to you.  It can create failure, rejection, anger, bitterness, grief and despair or it can create wisdom, opportunity, strength, faith, hope and resolve.   It is not a sign of failure.  It is not a freak accident. Is certainly is not God punishing you.  You are not a failure.  You are just a human.  

I hope when Hardship comes I remember God is with me.  I hope I seek Him as to the cause and solution.  I hope you do too.