Simple or Easy

We moved.  We did. 

We moved from one small town to another, even smaller, town. 

It all happened so fast there are times it is hard to believe.  If you knew the whole story you would wholeheartedly agree that the Lord is up to something in all of this.  Isn't He always?  But He chose to make Himself undeniably visible in this one.  Undeniably. 

You know how sometimes you are moving forward to something that is good, better even, yet you do not want to let go of where you were, where things were comfortable and safe and familiar.  It may not be the best for you, but you 'know' it.  And, though where He is leading you is much better, it is new, and unknown, and let's be honest, a little scary. 

Why is it that we hold on to that which is bad for us when that which is best for us is right there?  What is it about comfort and security that we crave more than our own good at times?

Jesus once spoke to a man, an invalid for 38 years, by the pool of Bethesda, as recorded in the gospel of John chapter 5.  Of course, a man like that would want to be healed.  Of course he would want to take up his mat and walk away from all of it.  Yet, Jesus asked the man, "Do you want to be healed?"

Seriously?  After 38 years, do you have to ask?

Apparently so. 

The first night in the new house was just awful.  I was tired, extremely tired.  The washing machine and the dishwasher were leaking.  I couldn't use my shower and we did not think the other shower worked either, so I had to take a bath.  At 10 o'clock that night.  After everyone else was nestled warmly in bed.  With no hot water.

It was cold.

I would have cried if I had the energy.  Moving didn't seem like such a good idea at that moment. 

Isn't it funny?  He moved us.  Clearly, He did.  But since it wasn't all smooth sailing and peaches 'n cream,  I wasn't sure I wanted to do it anymore. 

When did He say it would be smooth, or easy?  Today in language arts, my son had to take a survey asking three people what they thought was the difference between simple and easy.  Simple, for me, means not complicated or complex.  Easy, on the other hand, means requiring little to no effort.  No, I wouldn't say following Christ is easy.  Simple? Yes, but not easy.

Amazing and life-altering?  Yes.

Requiring little to no effort?  Not so much.

Worth it?

Absolutely.