[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"\u002Farticles\u002Fshouldn-t-life-be-easier":3,"\u002Farticles\u002Fshouldn-t-life-be-easier-surround":88},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"bibleBooks":8,"body":10,"columnName":69,"date":70,"description":71,"extension":72,"image":73,"meta":74,"minRead":75,"navigation":76,"path":77,"postType":78,"publication":79,"publicationUrl":73,"seo":80,"stem":81,"topics":82,"__hash__":87},"blog\u002Farticles\u002Fshouldn-t-life-be-easier.md","Shouldn't Life Be Easier?",{"name":7},"Dave Faust",[9],"",{"type":11,"value":12,"toc":66},"minimark",[13,22,25,28,31,34,41,48,51,54,57,60,63],[14,15,16,17,21],"p",{},"\"Life is difficult.\" That's how M. Scott Peck opened his book, ",[18,19,20],"em",{},"The Road Less Traveled",", when it was first published back in 1978. It's amazing it ever became a best-seller, because that isn't the feel-good message most of us want to hear. Before his death in 2005 at the age of 69, Peck received numerous awards, but he also struggled with Parkinson's disease and cancer, so he had plenty of opportunity to test his hypothesis: “Life is difficult. This is a great truth . . . because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult—once we truly understand and accept it—then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.\"",[14,23,24],{},"I wish life were not so hard. World leaders worry about terrorism and global warming; but it isn't a rose garden for the rest of us either, when job stress, traffic accidents, and root canals are so commonplace.",[14,26,27],{},"I wish it were easier to be a parent. It's difficult to balance discipline and affection, freedom and responsibility—knowing when to hold on and when to let go.",[14,29,30],{},"I wish it were easier to stay healthy. Why isn't exercising more fun and overeating more difficult? Why doesn't broccoli taste as good as a hot fudge sundae?",[14,32,33],{},"I wish it were easier to grow older. Why should a long life mean aches and pains, unfulfilled dreams, and grieving the loss of loved ones?",[14,35,36,37,40],{},"Sometimes I wish it were easier to be a Christian. Jesus' words in Matthew chapter 7 make me uncomfortable. Don't judge others? But it's easier to focus on others' faults instead of your own. Keep asking, seeking, and knocking on God's door? It's easier to quit trying when prayer brings no results. Why \"do to others what you would have them do to you\" when others show no concern about ",[18,38,39],{},"your"," needs?",[14,42,43,44,47],{},"Watch out for false prophets? Who wants to fight ",[18,45,46],{},"that"," battle? Why make waves when it's easier just to live and let live? Yet, some leaders shouldn't be trusted, even if they claim to prophesy and perform miracles in Jesus' name. Christians need to think critically and reject doctrinal errors—not popular things to do in a postmodern age.",[14,49,50],{},"And what about Jesus' admonition to stay on the narrow road? Who wants to be considered intolerant and narrow-minded?",[14,52,53],{},"I've been on narrow roads before. Some of them stretch along precarious mountain cliffs or lead through dark big-city alleys. On a narrow road you have to watch where you're going and make sure you don't slide into the ditch. On a narrow road, it's hard to turn around. You have to keep moving forward. And the toughest part is the loneliness, because not everyone wants to travel with you.",[14,55,56],{},"\"Life is difficult,\" but something in all of us rebels against this truth, wishing life were easier. \"Life is difficult,\" and our refusal to accept this reality lies at the root of many of our emotional and spiritual malfunctions.",[14,58,59],{},"And yet, when it's read from a different perspective, Matthew chapter 7 has a flip-side that's very encouraging.",[14,61,62],{},"Jesus tells us right up front about the hardships we will face—and the only leader worth following is one who's honest with his followers. The Lord's words have a hard edge, but they ring true. Get the plank out of your own eye first, and then you can help to clear up your brother's vision. Persevere in prayer, and God will hear and respond just as any loving father would do. Stay on the narrow road, and you'll find eternal rewards at the end of the journey. Build on a solid foundation instead of on sand, and you will survive life's inevitable storms.",[14,64,65],{},"Following Christ is difficult, but the Lord himself did the hard part on the cross. Compared to what he endured, we have it easy indeed.",{"title":9,"searchDepth":67,"depth":67,"links":68},2,[],"First Look","2006-10-15","\"Life is difficult.\" That's how M. Scott Peck opened his book, *The Road Less Traveled*, when it was first published back in 1978. It's amazing it ever became a best-seller, because that isn't the feel-good message most of us want to hear. Before his death in 2005 at the age of 69, Peck received numerous awards, but he also struggled with Parkinson's disease and cancer, so he had plenty of opportunity to test his hypothesis: “Life is difficult. This is a great truth . . . because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult—once we truly understand and accept it—then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.\"","md",null,{},4,true,"\u002Farticles\u002Fshouldn-t-life-be-easier","column","The Lookout",{"title":5,"description":71},"articles\u002Fshouldn-t-life-be-easier",[83,84,85,86],"Biblical Theology","Spiritual Formation","Church Leadership","Intergenerational Ministry","8shKjnMMMXaLNYT3jlVSC7NuovuwNYJTVqVmtCbAmgY",[89,94],{"title":90,"path":91,"stem":92,"description":93,"children":-1},"Should We Love the World?","\u002Farticles\u002Fshould-we-love-the-world","articles\u002Fshould-we-love-the-world","The Bible’s golden text informs us that “God so loved the world” (John 3:16), so it seems strange when the same biblical writer says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them” (1 John 2:15).",{"title":95,"path":96,"stem":97,"description":98,"children":-1},"Significance","\u002Farticles\u002Fsignificance","articles\u002Fsignificance","Years ago a college professor gave me a piece of wise advice I’ve never forgotten. We were talking about my career choices and what kind of job I should pursue. Thoughtfully my teacher said, “There are many different ways you can honor God in your work. But whatever you do, spend your time on something that really matters. The worst curse in life is meaninglessness.”"]