By: Elizabeth Haarberg

When Life is Hard, Remember the Purpose

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Life is hard. How may times have we heard that phrase? But why does it have to be hard? Some people have more difficult issues in their life than others such as more sickness and disease. But what is the point of hard things? Is it so we can have compassion for others, is it so we’re refined, or is it just because we live in a fallen world? It could be a multitude of answers depending on the individual.

“Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials.”
James 1:2 Amplified Version

How and why do we consider it joy, though?

“for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
James 1:3 English Standard Version

So we become committed and loyal. Then what?

“And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James 1:4 ESV

The more trials we have, the more complete we are, complete when Jesus looks at us. The hard things have a purpose in our life: to make us into the image of Christ.

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

The next area that is difficult for many people is parenting through the hard things that happen to our children. Many parents, including me, are challenged with letting our children experience the hard things that are needed for their refining. In my experience, this is more challenging than the difficult elements of my own life refining me. The pain of letting children experience disappointment is more challenging at times than others. I know it’s ultimately for their good, that they have to learn how to navigate difficult experiences, but I also wonder how low do they need to go before I step in and intervene. This is the dance of parenthood that is so often hard to navigate. I find myself conversing with God about releasing my children to the Lord, reminding myself Jesus loves my children more than I do, and repeatedly saying I trust you God. This usually does the trick at some point in the process.

Hard things have a purpose if we can look up and remind ourselves that we are becoming more and more like Christ with every difficult aspect we experience in life.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado