"Embracing the Suck"

I spent a good portion of yesterday reading James and writing it out in a notebook to carry with me to work on memorizing it. James 1:2-3 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."  My good friend, pastor, and big brother, who happens to be younger than me, told me what his Lieutenant told him once: "Embrace the suck." I don't know Gabe's Lieutenant, I don't know if he's a believer. I don't know where or why he came up with the phrase "Embrace the suck." but I think James 1:2-3 gives us the same advice. Not only are we to embrace it, we are to consider it pure joy.

As I sit here typing these words, there are tears streaming down my face. Life has been full of hurt and disappointment lately. Life has not been going the way I would plan it out if I was in control. But, God is God and I am not and all I can do right now is hold on to the truth of His Word. He promises that the trials and testing of my faith will develop perseverance. James goes on to say in verse 4, "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." So, if I have to go through the "suck" in order to be mature and complete then I will "Embrace the suck" no matter how hard it is. And, I can do so with full confidence in God's Word and God's Promises... and even with tears streaming down my face, a heart that is full of pain... that is enough.

One of my favorite songs is by Pam Thum and it's called "Life is Hard (God is Good)" These are the lyrics:

You turn the key
Then close the door behind you
Drop your bags on the floor
You reach for the light
But there's darkness deep inside
And you can't take it anymore

'Cause sometimes living takes the life out of you
And sometimes living is all you can do

Life is hard, the world is cold
We're barely young and then we're old
But every falling tear is always understood
Yes, life is hard, but God is good

You start to cry
'Cause you've been strong for so long
And that's not how you feel
You try to pray
But there's nothing left to say
So you just quietly kneel

In the silence of all that you face
God will give you His mercy and grace

Jesus never said
It was an easy road to travel
He only said that you would never be alone
So when your last thread of hope
Begins to come unraveled
Don't give up, He walks beside you
On this journey home and He knows

Life is hard, the world is cold
We're barely young and then we're old
But every falling tear is always understood
Yes, life is hard, but God is good

You can listen to it here...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CofUkANTmeQ&feature=related


Holding On,

Sherri