We have all heard the infamous saying "the best things in life are free", but I wholeheartedly and firmly disagree. It is my experience that tells me otherwise, and while I am not speaking in financial terms, the best things in life definitely do not come without great cost. In fact, the best things in life are what cost us the most- the most hard work, self-control, patience and sacrifice. If we are going to be quoting famous sayings, let's go with "anything worth having in life doesn't come easy". To prove this fact I want to briefly look at two main areas of my life.
Faith- Jesus became front and center in my life when I was sixteen. I had a couple of rocky years when I first hit the ground running; trying to live out Christianity as a high school student did not prove to be super smooth sailing for me. In college I began to realize the work I would have to put in to grow in my faith. It meant choosing some new friends who could encourage me in my walk. It meant daily obedience in studying God's word. It meant dying daily to my own flesh- and my flesh can be pretty tough to kill. It still means those same things today. I fall short many days and am thankful for His grace. Every time I fall, I get back up and continue walking in the light. Living out my faith is certainly not easy, but it's oh so worth it.
"I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God's heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:14
Health - Oh how I have been around the block a time or two battling my own self-image. I have gained weight, lost it, gained it again, and lost it once more (not counting pregnancy)! My best friend Sarah told me that she saw only slight differences in my weight from pictures where I weighed more (every girl needs a best friend like Sarah), but the struggle was very extreme for me in a psychological sense. I finally accepted that if being healthy is so important to me, I am going to have to put in hard work. Sometimes I don't want to say no to extra ice cream or wake up early to workout. Most of the time I really want seconds and thirds when it comes to dessert actually. But each day I try to remind myself that this body is not my own and therefor I need to take care of it like I care for anything else that belongs to someone else. It's a gift that I get to use for a short time and I need to put in the sweat (literally) in order to keep it in the best condition it can be.
These are just a couple of areas that require hard work, but they serve well in supporting the truth; the best things in life often cost us the most. The key is to look at it day by day and lean on the Lord for strength. I could not grow in my faith, stay healthy, or really do anything else for that matter without Jesus. I am nothing without the Lord, but thankfully
"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Phil 4:13
