When Your Commitment Feels Too Difficult

Why is Commitment So Difficult?

It, for sure, looks incredibly exciting at first glance. Even glamorous. An answer to prayer. A dream come true.

As I stood at the bottom of Camelback Mountain, I was excited! It was a beautiful day. The view was spectacular. I was thinking of the goal – a panoramic view of the entire city of Phoenix. It would be such a great experience for my little guy and me on our Mommy–Son date!

The incline began quickly and sharply for unseasoned hikers like ourselves. I would need to adjust. Even though I am a runner and my son a basketball player, hiking uses a different kind of strength.  Right off the bat, I found myself working diligently to control my breathing. I had to dig a little deeper into my efforts, but climbed ahead still filled with excitement.

As we progressed up the side of the mountain, I noticed the progressive shift of my emotional state of mind toward my commitment.

I went from bubbling-over excitement to “Really? This kinda stinks!” in mere minutes!

And as I uttered those words in my head, I could almost hear God chuckling. Saying, “Remind you of anything?” Thankfully my son was ahead of me, or he would have seen my rolling eyes! I knew God was right, but as I was huffing and puffing, it just seemed like a terrible moment to hear truth! That truth, though, is that He and I have walked through many a commitment struggle together. Commitment that gets tough. Gets frustrating. And becomes hard work. Really hard work.

Do you feel that way somewhere in your life right now?

A business venture?

Parenting?

A relationship with

• A friend?
• A family member?
• A spouse or significant other?
• Church?
• Your children?
• Jesus

Your health?

Your weight?

Did your commitment seem exciting in the beginning? Did you start off focused on your goal? Was the energy and passion there in abundance?

But now it’s not?

It got tough? Frustrating? It became really really hard work?

I wish I had the answer for you. All tied up nicely in with a bow. But I don’t. No one can give you just the one right strategy to make it up that mountain to the glorious view.

But I can tell you this.  The view is worth it.

It is a prize. It is a treasure. We must push through the struggle of commitment.  Push through to win.

Don’t you realize buy nolvadex cheap uk that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! –1 Corinthians 9:24

Without the struggle, we, with our self-indulgent human nature, would never recognize the treasure. We must feel the adversity and the pain, to fully feel the joy.

All good things worth achieving will have the struggle.

And if you dig deep setting your eyes upon Him and the obedience to His Word, you will have the tools to win the race.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. Hebrews 12:1-3

Father, You are the author and finisher of our faith. You alone are our strength and endurance when the commitment to climb becomes difficult. You know each of our stories and where each of us and aching to turn around and run the other way, allowing defeat to win. I ask You to stop us in our tracks as we move to run away. Change the direction of our steps and of our thoughts. Put them firmly back on You as You take each step with us through the finish line. We thank You for loving us more than any of our failed attempts … loving us when we are weak … and loving us when we have stepped away from You. Your unfailing love is the strength in our step and the wind beneath our wings. In Your Precious and Holy Name I pray. Amen.

In case you missed part of the series, you can find all the Overcoming Emotional Baggage Posts HERE!

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