And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. –Matthew 1:21

In the midst of the last minute Christmas craziness (shopping, wrapping, cooking, cleaning, laundry, packing, traveling, whew!) may we all keep in our hearts exactly what it is we’re celebrating.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. –Isaiah 53:5,6

I wish all of you who will be joining in the festivities this week a very Blessed Christmas!

I’ve been wrestling with a lot of discouragement lately, mostly the kind that comes at the end of a pregnancy when that nearly 50 pound belly I’m dragging around finally starts to sap enough of my energy that I can’t seem to do even the simplest things like laundry, and cooking, and staying on top of discipline and homeschooling. “I just made dinner last night,” I whined to my mother, “And now I have to make it again!”

Then one morning, as I lay in bed with my eyes burning, feeling sorry for myself that I had to get up, I realized something. The main reason I get discouraged is that I expect life to be easy, and I’m disappointed when it isn’t.

But God never promised me an easy life. Actually, life is pretty much guaranteed to be hard.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. –John 16:33

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. –Isaiah 43:2

Notice it says, “When.” Hardship is inevitable.

Of course, the “hardship” at the end of a normal, healthy pregnancy is nothing compared to what a lot of people go through. In fact, it’s nothing compared to things I’ve gone through myself, broken bones and nearly dying of pneumonia, family stresses and assorted heartbreak. But somehow, even the smallest amount of interference with my plans for an easy, happy life tempts me to discouragement. I feel like I signed up for a spa retreat and instead found myself in combat, viciously assailed on every side, fighting a losing battle for my own joy and the joy of my family. But how silly of me to suppose that life on this fallen, broken, sin ravaged earth should ever be anything but war! I need to expect the trouble that God plainly tells me will come and greet it valiantly. I need to be a cheery pessimist.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. –1 Peter 4:12,13

The only thing I can be optimistic about is that the Hero of the story (God) will show himself a mighty warrior in my raging battles. Any hardship is really just an opportunity to see His glory. My heavenly spa retreat is coming. Until then, it’s mortal combat every day for the souls of my family and those the Lord brings across my path. It’s mortal combat to glorify Him in my weak flesh, to be cheerful when I’m tired and faithful when I’d rather whine, patient and steadfast when I feel like giving up.

Get back, discouragement over having to do laundry at eight months gestation! Take that, self-pity, and that, grumpy attitude! I wasn’t put on this earth for a pedicure. This is a war zone, and I’m going to fight to the death.

The other day, I was in my friend’s kitchen, relating a problem I was having, when her husband said, “You know, you read the blog, and it sounds like everything’s fine. Three children, and a weblog, she must be doing great.” Heh.

Other bloggers have written posts on this. I’ve even linked to one of my favorites, but perhaps it’s something that each of us needs to say for ourselves from time to time. So, I’m going to say it now: Actually, everyone who lives at my house is human, real, genuine, sin confronting, bad day having, flesh indulging, mistake making, direct descendants of Adam and Eve.

I want to be real on-line and off, honest about my struggles and the battles that rage around me, but I also do not want to gossip. This is crucial at all times, but how much more so on my blog where my words are the only testimony many visitors have of the character of my husband, children, parents, and friends.

James 4:11-12 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

Collosians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

But this devotion to avoiding gossip can have an unintended consequence. In this world where trouble and complaints are often Siamese twins, many people assume that if you’re not complaining you must live in a land of sunshine, untroubled by any storm of sorrow. And that can make them feel like they also deserve to live in such a place, an attitude leading to shock, anger, and bewilderment when the inevitable rain clouds gather on the horizon.

The assumption that non-complaining bloggers are care-free can also weaken our words. I’ve had people tell me that I have no right to sit here on my shady veranda in paradise, sipping my lemonade of blessings, and preach about submitting to husbands and fathers, or being joyful when life hurts, or how none of us really deserves to be angry, because I “don’t know anything about how hard things are for some people.” And that’s true. I actually only know how hard things are for me. But it’s also true that things are pretty hard for everyone. If anyone seems to have an easy life, it’s probably because we don’t know him very well.

Life is war. We are all in harm’s way, all living in a combat zone, fired upon daily with trouble: financial trouble, health trouble, family trouble, psychological trouble, emotional trouble, stress, anxiety, worry, anger, sin, “fiery darts of the wicked” one (Ephesians 6:16). We should never feel alone in our battles, or even be surprised by them. They are indeed common to man. So when we read each other’s blogs and everything seems to be fine, rather than assuming we’re reading the idealistic ramblings of sunshine and lemonade, and thinking that nobody else ever suffers like we have, let’s just be thankful that we’re not being defiled by gossip. And let’s remember that Christ’s promise applies to the ladies in blogland just as surely as it does to us at home.

Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.