I was driving home from a rough day at work not long ago, having a very frustrating time with all the other drivers on the road. Feeling extremely annoyed at life, feeling a bit sorry for myself. I know that my current difficulties pale in comparison to many other people�s trials, but my problems are my problems.
Anyway, I was just thinking, and I don�t know if this was a revelation, or just a realization of something I already knew. But I was thinking how extremely frustrated I was at life at that very moment. Then I thought � and here�s where the realization part comes in � then I thought, life is supposed to be this way.
At a certain level, life is supposed to stink; life is supposed to be frustrating, and annoying, and bothersome, and even completely crappy at times.
Now, I�m not saying that we are not supposed to have any peace in this world (Phil. 4:7), or that we are not supposed to be content in this life (Phil. 4:11), or experience happiness or joy (Rom. 15:13). Indeed, these are fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22-23). But, if this life was meant to be wonderful, in and of itself, we wouldn�t have anything to look forward to (I Cor. 15:19). Indeed, the gospel, the good news, is a message of hope (Col. 1: 4-5, 23, 27). As a matter of fact, Paul spends a lot of time telling us that this peace and joy comes from that hope (Rom. 5:2; 15:13).
I�ve known for a long time that life wasn�t fair, but knowing that has never made me feel any better about it; actually, it almost makes it worse. I don�t like the fact that things don�t generally turn out the way we think they should. And, yes, I know �in all things God works for the good of those that love him,� but in my small-minded shortsightedness, I can�t see all ends like God can. So, knowing that life isn�t fair, and that sometimes life stinks has never made that fact any better.
But after coming to the realization of something it seems like I�ve known for a long time � that life is supposed to stink; well, for some reason that did make me feel a bit better. It made me understand that when things aren�t always fun and games down here, we have a better place to go, a better place to be, and that if life here was perfect, there wouldn�t be a need, or even a desire for Heaven. And in the end, it�s that hope that makes this place a little more perfect than it is...
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