The Hard Road

Have you ever noticed that when you take the harder road, the more difficult path, the steeper incline, you feel more accomplished when it's done?

When you take the more difficult path, it's more satisfying when it's done.

How about spiritually?  Have you ever noticed that you have a keener sense of God's presence and sustaining power when you're in the midst of hardship, suffering, persecution, and difficulty?

When you take the more difficult path, we find Him more satisfying.  Need strength?  He's got it.  Forgiveness?  In spades.  Power?  They don't call Him Almighty for nothing.  Courage?  Look at the cross.

So here's the question of questions (at least on this topic):  if we get "more of God" and find Him more satisfying if we walk down the harder road, why do we so often take the easier one?  Or, framed differently, when was the last time you did the hard thing God asked you to do and then said to yourself that you'd never do that again?

It's not because we're spiritual masochists.  It's not because we're spiritual ascetics.

It's because we know a good trade - a little (or a lot) of comfort for a big dose of all-satisfying God.  That's worth selling everything you have and joyfully buying a field (Matthew 13.44).

But that's just me thinking thoughts...