Why doesn’t Jesus give me easIER?

All my friends and family would vote for easIER for me. My flesh DEMANDS easIER, instead of this ridiculously harrrd I have much of the time — when life seems hardly worth living. If Jesus REALLY loves me as He says He does, why doesn’t He give me easIER?

Because Jesus loves me more than all my friends and family do, and is willing to give me suffering in order to grow me yet-more dependent on Him, yet-LESS dependent on my flesh’s view of reality. Jesus seems intent on not giving me what my flesh wants, but rather what is BEST for me — yet-more growth in Jesus-dependency. OKOKOK it feels like it’s time for Him to grow OTHERS — not more for me.

But Scripture reminds me that suffering produces perseverance, then character, then hope/faith/dependency. Only Jesus-dependents experience joy and peace that have nothing to do with circumstances. Pearl of great price, worth selling all to get. Being retrained in yet-more Jesus-dependency is painful, but it’s good painful, healing painful, redemptive painful. Makes no sense to the right-side-up kingdom of this world — my flesh and the flesh of other humans. Makes perfect sense in the Upside-down Kingdom of Jesus.

— Dave McCarty, GospelFriendships, wanting easIER in his less-sane moments — influenced by his flesh’s view of reality

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