Why is Everything so Hard?

God gave man dominion. We are creatures of destiny and purpose. In Psalm 8 we read,


"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!"

If man was created to have dominion over the works of God's hands (also see Genesis 1:28-30 & 2:19-20), why is everything so hard? The Word of God always has the answer!

Before Genesis 3, man was living in perfection, having everything he could possibly ever need and even want. But, when opportunity presented itself to reach for the one thing God said no to...we couldn't handle it. We had to have it! Paradise wasn't enough. We thought we were missing out because human flesh always wants what is forbidden.

So, when mankind rebelled against God what happened? There was an automatic consequence that God had already communicated long before it happened. Genesis 2:17 says, "...you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." And because man had dominion over the earth, when he rebelled...all that was under him rebelled too (see 3:14-19).

The whole earth is in rebellion against God. When man rebelled, the whole earth rebelled (see Romans 8:19-23). That's why it's hard to raise a child; that's why it's hard to have a profitable business; that's why it's difficult to have a growing, fibrant ministry; that's why it's hard to even train a dog. The whole earth is messed up. Everything is in rebellion. So, in reality, we shouldn't be surprised when thing's go wrong. We should really prepare ourselves for trouble (John 16:33). It's the natural consequence of sin.

BUT...Jesus came to make all things new!!! And He calls us to partner with Him to restore what has been broken; to take back what was stolen; to bring hope to the hurting and light to the darkness. Paul said in Romans 5:20 that as people sin more and more, God's wonderful kindness (His g-r-a-c-e) becomes more abundant! Yes, it may be hard...but it is worth it! We can kneel before Him every day and find forgiveness and hope. His Spirit will fill us and empower us to do more than our eyes have seen and our ears have heard and our mind can conceive through Christ who strengthens us.

This messed up earth is not what God originally intended. Everything He made "God saw that it was good." So we have to share the goodness of God! He wants us back, but He wants us by choice. And when we say "Yes" to Him girlfriends and boyfriends - - it is a whole new life!!! A life with purpose. A life worth living! The best is yet to come...