Skip to main content

Difficult Over Easy

This week has been an overwhelming home coming. My husband and I were talking about how often we have moved, but here in Arizona, it feels like home. We put roots down here nearly 19 years ago, raised the kids here and it is where we all met Jesus. It’s only natural that it would feel like home every time I came to visit over the last five years. 

When we moved away, we had plans to come back when we retired. That was going to be a long span but that was always the goal. I knew when we left Arizona it was God’s plan. He made it so clear. However, it wasn’t easy. Following Jesus is so simple but rarely easy. I’ve learned to embrace the difficult even though on most given days, I’d prefer to choose easy. 

Last weekend, after a very long and tiring two plus days driving, that Arizona State line sign was a sight for sore eyes. I remember when we first moved to Arizona from California. I did not want to move. In fact, it was one of the most difficult moves I had to make. I did not want to uproot the kids again. But Jim’s company had merged and took us out of our comfort zone and into the middle of the desert. The funny thing is, it really was an answer to prayer. I had been praying for my marriage. And God not only heard my prayer but answered it the best way He often does. Not by giving me what was easy but by giving me what I needed. I needed Him! 

It was there in the desert that God revealed Himself to me. Where He also showed me my own heart. He knew how much I needed Him. God not my marriage or my circumstances needed to be my hope, my strength, my all. It took me several years to see that. And if I’m honest, I still struggle with it. I still want easy over difficult. 

These past five years have been amazing. So many life experiences I would never have had, had I chose easy. Had I chose to stay in Arizona when my husband was offered to go to Chicago. He gave me a choice. He said “ If you don’t want to do this, we won’t”. I remember thinking “ I don’t want to go. I want to stay here. Family is here. This is home. I want to grow old in this house and have family get togethers”.  It was comfortable and it had become easy. But I also knew that Jim wanted this and I did not want to hold him back. More importantly, I felt God moving me in this. I was reminded of scripture that tells wives to follow their husband’s  lead. Jim is the leader in our home.  It’s not always easy to follow him but I know it’s truth and I need to do it even when it’s difficult. 

I don’t think it’s a surprise to hear that I have been praying God would bring us back to Phoenix sooner than later. Especially after we started having grand babies! We wanted to be close to the kids and be around to see those little peanuts grow up. Even though I absolutely loved Texas and the life He had given me there.  I’m so incredibly grateful! We had the best neighborhood, neighbors, friends and I settled in faster there than I had most places in the past. I knew it would be difficult to leave. I think how I could have missed out on the life long relationships I made there had I not followed my husband to Chicago, then to Boston. Which by the way, both of those places were incredible life changing experiences also! It changed me in so many ways. I’m forever grateful for the difficult and the countless blessings God has given us through those difficult times

It’s easy to be thankful and praise God when everything is going well. When life seems “easy”. There have been and will be more difficult days ahead. That’s just life here on earth. I will choose to be thankful in those days too. God is my hope, my strength and my all! For that I am incredibly thankful. I have been overwhelmed with gratitude to God for bringing us back to Phoenix sooner than later. I still pinch myself that it’s real. We are in temporary housing while we wait for our house to be built. Our plan is that it will be our last move. Ha! I know, I know! I have to hold that very loosely. God calls the shots in my life. If He chooses to move us again,  as difficult as that would be I will still follow Him!  I will choose difficult over easy because it’s life changing. He knows what I need in order to make me into who He wants me to be. And for that, I am very thankful! 


Pressing On 


“Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
Psalm 25:5 NIV


“Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.”
Ephesians 5:22-24 MSG



“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

RBJ and a Barf Bag

  It’s been thirty years since I got breast implants. Having birthed and nursed two babies my boobs were left looking like tube socks sporting tennis balls in each one dangling from my chest. At twenty-eight years old, living in the world that put so much importance on outward appearance, I thought that I needed enhancement to feel better about myself. Looking back, maybe it did serve its purpose for a while. But, I was never truly comfortable with them. They were larger than I wanted and I’m fairly modest so I don’t like the attention I thought they brought in my younger years. Shopping for clothes, especially swimsuits has always been a challenge for me. All those cute summer dresses made me look pregnant and bras were very uncomfortable. I’m not anti-plastic surgery, implants or whatever. I’m just older and in a different stage in life and view things from a more Godly perspective now that I seek His ways for my life. I’ve known for several years that the implants in my body nee...
5 comments
Read more

Cool Mornings and Coyotes

  This is the time of year we all sing praises for living in Arizona. Cool enough in the morning and evenings to call for a light jacket and/or patio heater while the perfect temp midday allows doors and windows to be open letting in the fresh air. Ah, Spring! It also makes for a great morning since the sun comes up a little earlier. Annie loves it too since I can once again, take her with me on an early morning run.   I’m still somewhat of a chicken to run in the dark alone even with her. But these crisp mornings have been great and sunrises are my favorite. So, off we went the other day just as the sun was rising.   We did our typical run through the neighbor that has become so familiar to not only me but Annie as well. She even has the same spots to relieve herself. She likes to lead and I like to let her think she is, but I do have her on somewhat of a short leash. Mostly, because she is stronger than I am and I really don’t want any more road rash than she’s been...
4 comments
Read more

Building Bridges

I have a thing about bridges. I love them. I like old rustic bridges no matter how large or small. I like creaky  wooden ones. I like gigantic, historical bridges that connect big cities to quaint little towns. I like walking bridges that get me across a small body of water or over steep, rocky terrain. There is just something about a bridge to me, that says, "Come over, there is something really cool over here and it's worth the trip". Something so much so, that a bridge was necessary and someone invested their time and money to build it. I remember a few years ago on our last trip to San Francisco. We rented bikes and rode across the Golden Gate Bridge. It was amazing! When we got to the other side we were in a quaint little town called Sausalito . We sat outside near the water, in a little cafe and had lunch. The view of the bay was entirely different from this point of view. Not only that you could see the San Francisco skyline and the whole city itself. Definitely wo...
4 comments
Read more