“Humans don’t mind hardship, in fact they thrive on it; what they mind is not feeling necessary. Modern society has perfected the art of making people not feel necessary. It's time for that to end...human beings need three basic things in order to be content: they need to feel competent at what they do; they need to feel authentic in their lives; and they need to feel connected to others. These values are considered "intrinsic" to human happiness and far outweigh "extrinsic" values such as beauty, money and status.”
― Sebastian Junger, Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging
EZEKIEL 10-12
18“They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. 19I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. 21But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”(11:18-21)
HEBREWS 11:1-19
32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37They were put to death by stoning;e they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
JOURNAL
I've noticed something that I hate admitting but I am beginning to understand the reason behind it. Sometimes I wish for a disaster...That sounds horrible writing it down but in speaking honestly with other men...I know I'm not alone in that. I know other men that have confessed that sometimes they want the hurricane to come their way...they want the snowstorm to pile up feet of snow and trap them in. It sounds crazy that we would secretly want hardship, a fight, an enemy, a challenge - even at the risk of personal harm. Yet I think this is because we were made to thrive in difficulty. I think it's because it forces us to face our limitations, draw on our talents and band together as community, family etc.
That would mean that the greatest threat to our heart and soul is not conflict and suffering but rather ease and comfort. The reasoning would be that ease and comfort ultimately draw us away from our need of God and others...whereas conflict and difficulty actually draws us to God and others. It seems so backward and opposite of my emotions at times...yet this is truly one of those trust moments...to willingly wade into conflict requires faith and hope in things not seen...this mindset puts us right in the middle of the fight with of all those heroes spoken of in these verses...seeking refuge and strength in God.
It also means that everyday offers the opportunity to do something difficult, something that stretches me and causes me to get out of my comfort and wade into risk. This is a habit that I know God wants me to cultivate. Thank you Father for this reminder.
That would mean that the greatest threat to our heart and soul is not conflict and suffering but rather ease and comfort. The reasoning would be that ease and comfort ultimately draw us away from our need of God and others...whereas conflict and difficulty actually draws us to God and others. It seems so backward and opposite of my emotions at times...yet this is truly one of those trust moments...to willingly wade into conflict requires faith and hope in things not seen...this mindset puts us right in the middle of the fight with of all those heroes spoken of in these verses...seeking refuge and strength in God.
It also means that everyday offers the opportunity to do something difficult, something that stretches me and causes me to get out of my comfort and wade into risk. This is a habit that I know God wants me to cultivate. Thank you Father for this reminder.
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