Do Hard Things

There’s a book I came across a few weeks ago that has inspired the series we’re going entering in our youth program this week titled Do Hard Things.  It’s written by a couple of teenage twins who have been igniting a revolution of their peers against the low expectations that our culture has for teenagers. 

In their words from their website:

The official definition of the ‘rebelution’ is “a teenage rebellion against the low expectations of an ungodly culture.” When you look around today, in terms of godly character and practical competence, our culture does not expect much of us young people. We are not only expected to do very little that is wise or good, but we’re expected to do the opposite. Our media-saturated youth culture is constantly reinforcing lower and lower standards and expectations.

Preparing for this series has inspired reflection on my own course over the past year. How has my own desire to avoid hard things stunted my development?  Here are a few candid thoughts:

1. My desire to avoid hard things in my marriage causes me to avoid conflict that could bring life, and instead choose to avoid, delay, and ignore areas that need attention.
2. My desire to avoid hard things in my ministry allows me to let myself off the hook when things are not as good as they can be, because “I can only do what I can do.”
3. My desire to avoid hard things can cause me to choose shallow connections with people over deep and dangerous relationships that require work, trust, and time.